Party hopping rocks political outfits ahead of polls

DCP Secretary General John Methu, during a media briefing, condemned the establishment of the Ebola quarantine in Nanyuki. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

The recent appointment of  Senator John Methu as DCP party’s Secretary General has thrust back into the fore the fragrant violation of party hopping laws governing political outfits by elected leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Realignments from across the political divide have also shed light on the fact that behind closed-door meetings, shifting alliances and subtle public messaging, key players are laying the foundation for what is expected to be a high-stakes contest. And with the battle lines forming early, all indications are that the real race may be decided well before election day.

Methu who was elected as the Nyandarua Senator on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket was on Monday May 25, appointed as the DCP party Secretary General designate, and is set to take over from Hezron Obaga. In the changes communicated by party leader Rigathi Gachagua, Methu was tasked with leading the party’s campaigns for the forthcoming Ol Kalou by-election.

While the Senator has time without number publicly expressed his frustrations and running of the ruling UDA party, he is yet to officially resign from the President William Ruto-led outfit. Of interest is the fact that he will now become DCP party’s official spokesperson while still a member of UDA party- at least on paper.

This however goes against the political parties Act which states that a person shall not be a member of more than one political party at the same time.

“A person who, while being a member of a political party shall be deemed to have resigned from that party if that person, forms another political party; joins in the formation of another political party; joins another political party; in any way or manner, publicly advocates for the formation of another political party; or promotes the ideology, interests or policies of another political party,” reads sections 14(A) of the Political Parties Act.

The Act further stipulates that a member of a political party who intends to resign from the political party shall give a written notice prior to his resignation to the political party; the clerk of the relevant House of Parliament, if the member is a member of Parliament. The notified entities are then required to notify the Registrar of Political parties of such resignation within seven days of the resignation.

In this regard, the Senator has flouted the provisions of the Act. But he is not alone. And as 2026 is shaping up as the year of calculated realignments, quiet defections, early campaign machinery and strategic positioning, mass defections have rocked the political landscape as key players jump ship in a bid to ensure political survival ahead of the high-stakes polls.

In February this year, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula announced that he had formally defected from DAP-K to UDA, setting off major political realignments in Kakamega County and the wider western Kenya region.

Savula, who was elected on a coalition arrangement between the DAP-K and ODM, confirmed that he had already registered as a UDA aspirant for the Kakamega governor’s seat and will face-off with Governor Fernandes Barasa (ODM) come the general elections that are just under 14 months away.

His defection came shortly after his appointment as Deputy Coordinator of President Ruto’s political activities in the western Kenya region, a role that placed him at the centre of a UDA’s grassroots mobilization strategy.

In the same month, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP and former Kieni constituency MP Kanini Kega decamped to the Gachagua-led Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) Party. Kanini joined DCP from the Jubilee party.

His departure from Jubilee and welcome to DCP was captured by his now party leader Gachagua.

“Welcome Home Hon. Kanini kega, @DCP_Democracy is the home of progressive leaders who desire leadership in the future,” Gachagua wrote on his “X” account.

Kanini was re-elected as the MP for Kieni constituency on the Jubilee ticket in 2017, and in 2022, he was nominated by the party to the East African Legislative Assembly.

But during his tenure at EALA, Kanini was involved in a party dispute where there were two factions within the Jubilee Party, one led by him and nominated MP Sabina Chege, while the other was led by the then secretary general for Jubilee Jeremiah Kioni.

He has since shifted his allegiance to Gachagua and has proven to be a robust defender of the DCP party leader.  Jubilee’s nominated MP Sabina Chege has also announced plans to vie for the Kigumo MP seat come 2027 and is reportedly vying on a UDA ticket. She has however been attending various UDA meetings and has been a fervent defender of the current administration’s efforts countrywide.

DCP party has also not been spared of defections with Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba and Juja MP George Koimburi ditching the outfit in favour of UDA.

Wamuchomba earlier this year came out to declare support for President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 general elections. Taking to her official X account on Monday, January 26, 2026, Wamuchomba, in a video, confessed her support to Ruto, declaring two terms for Ruto as she also embarks on a three-term journey for Githunguri Constituency.

“Yangu ni three term ya Rais ni two term twende kazi bila kelele,” Wamuchomba said.

The development caught the public by surprise given her history of being an ardent critic of the Ruto administration and zealous defender of former DP Gachagua. Infact, shortly after the ouster of Gachagua, she was seen weeping uncontrollably.

It is these realignments that have shed light on the fact that behind closed-door meetings, shifting alliances and subtle public messaging, key players are laying the foundation for what is expected to be a high-stakes contest. The battle lines are forming early — and the real race may be decided well before election day.

Pundits now argue that a majority of the defectors are driven by a need for political survival amid low incumbent ratings and deep fears of a rising unpredictable Gen-Z voting wave, with the lawmakers desperate to preempt internal party nomination snubs.

Professor and political Herman Manyora, while attributing the defections to political survival, avers that more realignments are set to rock the political scene between now and the 2027 elections.

“If you look at the case of Wamucomba, and the risk she's taking… because she may not even be elected MP. Do you think you can do that for nothing? It's either you are mole or you've been implored to join UDA,” said Manyora.

“If Ruto continues being as unpopular as he is, you expect a lot more people to decamp for their own survival. For example, if you come from Mount Kenya, you would know well that unless you are with DCP, your chances of re-election or election are almost zero,” he added