Gachagua Lands Another Major UDA Blow as Nyandarua Governor Badilisha Defects to DCP After Ol Kalou Triumph
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified the political battle in the Mt Kenya region after announcing that Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha has officially joined the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), in what appears to be the latest high-profile defection from President William Ruto’s political camp ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, July 29, comes just weeks after DCP secured a resounding victory in the fiercely contested Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election—an outcome widely viewed by political observers as a major boost for Gachagua’s growing influence in the region.
In a statement, Gachagua revealed that Governor Badilisha, together with members of the Nyandarua County Assembly, had abandoned the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and would now seek re-election under the DCP banner.
“I am delighted to receive Governor Kiarie Badilisha of Nyandarua County and the entire County Assembly into the DCP Party,” Gachagua said.
He added:
“They have assured me that they will defend their seats on DCP Party tickets, and they shall form part of the aspirants in the party primaries next year.”
‘Answering the Call for Kenya’s Liberation’
According to Gachagua, the governor’s decision to switch allegiance was motivated by what he described as a national movement seeking political change ahead of the next General Election.
“The people of Nyandarua County, led by their Governor, have brought a message of goodwill from the people of Nyandarua. They are answering the call for the liberation of Kenya,” he stated.
The former Deputy President further claimed that DCP and its newest members shared a common vision for the country’s future.
“On the liberation of our nation, we are on the same wavelength. With certainty, we shall achieve the best future for our nation.”
Gachagua also asserted that the latest defection was part of a broader political wave, alleging that more elected leaders were quietly preparing to leave rival parties and join DCP as momentum continued to build across the Mt Kenya region.
Fresh Blow to UDA
Governor Badilisha’s move comes only days after Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata also crossed over to DCP after leaving UDA.
Kang’ata was officially welcomed into Gachagua’s party on July 24, declaring that he would seek re-election on a DCP ticket instead of defending his seat under President Ruto’s party.
The back-to-back defections are likely to fuel speculation over shifting political loyalties in the Mt Kenya region, where competition for influence ahead of the 2027 General Election is rapidly intensifying.
Ol Kalou Victory Strengthened DCP
The latest political realignment follows DCP’s breakthrough performance in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election earlier this month.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared DCP candidate Sammy Kamau Ngotho Waweru the winner after he secured 35,440 votes, comfortably defeating UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyaga, who garnered 5,450 votes.
The landslide victory was widely interpreted as a major milestone for Gachagua’s relatively new political outfit and a signal that the party could emerge as a formidable force in the Mt Kenya region if it maintains its current momentum.
With influential governors and elected leaders now rallying behind DCP, the political contest ahead of the 2027 General Election is expected to become increasingly competitive as parties scramble to consolidate their regional support bases.
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