Disowned by children: How Gachagua's 'political children' betrayed him at hour of need

When the hour of need knocked, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was betrayed by the most unlikely lawmakers: Mathira MP Eric Wa Mumbi and Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, who are a couple.

When Wa Mumbi and Ms Maina tied the knot, Gachagua was the lead negotiator. But When Gachagua was being fried in the National Assembly, the couple was among those MPs who supported the impeachment motion that now threatens to end the DP’s political career.

On November 18 last year, Wa Mumbi and Maina referred to Gachagua as their dad for the second in command role during their marriage. 

The ouster bid came almost a year after besieged Gachagua led a political delegation to Ms Maina’s home in Kigumo constituency where he was not only the lead negotiator for the traditional wedding between the two law makers but acted as Wa Mumbi’s father due to the fact that the MP is the son of a single mother.

The DP, just like the couple, donned the traditional brown shirt embraided with white tiny shells. Female MPs who graced the colourful ceremony wore African print dresses with brown patterns.

Some of the MPs who attended the event included Silvanus Osoro of South Mugirango, Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Phelix Odiwuor (Langata), Peter Salasya (Mumias East MP), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino among others.

Majority of the MPs who attended the event and dined with Gachagua were among the 281 MPs who voted to oust him.

In the lead-up to 2022 elections, Gachagua publicly endorsed his long-term friend, Wa Mumbi, for the Mathira parliamentary seat. 

Wa Mumbi, a first-term Member of County Assembly (MCA) in Nyeri from 2017, was handpicked by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as the preferred candidate to succeed Gachagua, following the latter’s nomination as the running mate to then-presidential candidate William Ruto. 

This endorsement marked a significant moment in the political landscape of Mathira, as Gachagua, who had represented the constituency in Parliament, transitioned to high octane national politics. 

On May 21, 2022, UDA party leader and current President William Ruto confirmed Wamumbi’s candidacy, stating that the party had settled on him as the ideal candidate to continue Gachagua’s legacy in the region.  

“Wa Mumbi is a strong and principled leader. He was one of the few County Assembly members in Nyeri County who refused to accept bribes in order to endorse the BBI Bill. His firmness and integrity will be greatly valuable to the people of Mathira,” Ruto praised him. 

Gachagua and Wa Mumbi shared a long history that dates back to their days of local governance. Throughout Wa Mumbi’s tenure as Konyu MCA, Gachagua often referred to him as a leader who demonstrated a genuine commitment to public service. 

During the campaign, Wamumbi was ever-present at UDA rallies, frequently appearing alongside Gachagua, who consistently praised his leadership capabilities. 

Wa Mumbi’s entry into national politics was largely attributed to Gachagua’s backing. Their relationship went beyond the professional, as they shared a deep personal bond. Gachagua often spoke of Wa Mumbi as a friend who shared his political ideals and had the necessary skills to take Mathira to the next level. 

Many believe it was this strong endorsement that played a crucial role in securing Wa Mumbi’s win in the elections. 

During public rallies in Nyeri County, Gachagua maintained that Wamumbi was the right person to complete the development projects he had initiated as the MP for Mathira. 

“Wa Mumbi is a man of integrity and hard work. He will complete the work I started in Mathira, and I believe in his vision for our constituency,” Gachagua noted during one of the rallies.  

This endorsement further solidified the political alliance between Gachagua and Wa Mumbi, with many local observers viewing it as a strategic move to maintain Gachagua’s influence in Mathira, even as he ascended to the national stage.  

After the 2022 elections, Wamumbi became the MP for Mathira, while Rigathi Gachagua ascended to the position of DP.

However, their relationship did not end there, but continued in a positive way that Gachagua played a major role in the dowry negotiations between Wa Mumbi’s family and that of Ms Maina. 

In March this year, Ms Maina, while wishing Gachagua a happy birthday wrote on her Facebook page “Happy Birthday my dear dad, with lots of love and from the depth of my heart my dear friend.”

She used to describe the DP not only as her father but as the father of Mt Kenya region. She could rattle anybody who spoke ill of her “father figure” and was ready to go to any length with Gachagua’s aggressors.

Her husband regularly described Gachagua as his mentor, father and Mt Kenya Kingpin.

But today, things are different.

Gachagua cannot see eye to eye with the couple. The harmony appears to have been short-lived. In a turn of events, at the beginning of the year, Wa Mumbi confirmed that he had fallen out with his once close ally.  

While Wa Mumbi claimed they severed ties due to political misunderstanding, his wife claimed they fell out because Gachagua “cursed” her.

Interestingly, after the after impeachment motion sailed through, Ms Maina said she was happy that Gachagua cursed himself.

“The person who paid some fake people to curse me, cursed himself. It is a pity we got here,” she said while opening up about what transpired a day to their big day. Contrary to the pomp at the wedding, it was a rough day ahead of the event, according to Ms Maina.

“We have been insulted, threatened and humiliated. On his way to my dowry and the night prior, he (Gachagua) said unpalatable and venomous things that broke me completely. The things he has said about me in person, and what his associates have said, I have no space for forgiveness. He has referred to my lady colleagues as prostitutes. He even bet my marriage wouldn’t last for six months, yet I had trusted him,” claims Ms Maina.

The Woman Rep has been accusing Gachagua of high headedness and a leader with a condescending attitude against other leaders. 

Two months ago, Wa Mumbi confirmed that he had fallen out with Gachagua saying they could not see eye-to-eye. This was at the height of the controversy of closure of bars in Mathira. 

“It is true. There is a rift between the Deputy President and I. The rift is not about the closed bars in Karatina town which have left the town dead for four months. It is about something bigger than that, he should say the truth, and nothing but the truth. I will be telling the truth, and the people of Mathira will pick which side to believe,” Wa Mumbi said. 

In an interview with Inooro TV on July 11, Wa Mumbi claimed to have been summoned by Gachagua at his Mathira home where he was reportedly asked to join him in a bid to leave the government.

He reiterated that their differences were not related to Gachagua’s campaign against illicit liquor and instead, he disclosed that the conflict arose when the DP allegedly asked them to abandon the current leadership and begin preparations for the 2027 General Election. 

The lawmaker recounted a lengthy private meeting with Gachagua on May 25, 2024, which he claimed lasted from 7.30am to 3pm. During this meeting, Wa Mumbi claims he tried to warn Gachagua that his advisors were leading him astray. 

He expressed concern that Gachagua, who had previously positioned himself as a tireless advocate for the Gikuyu people, was now steering them in the wrong direction.

The MP went on to accuse Gachagua of betraying his pre-election agreement with President William Ruto whom he was introduced to before the 2022 elections. 

“Gachagua told me he was not going to have a written agreement with President Ruto because he trusted him. He told us that after we won the election, he would then go to the President with a list of seats that would benefit the central Kenya people,” Wa Mumbi said.

The MP is blaming Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu for Gachagua’s woes claiming it was them who misled him to “chest thumping”.