National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has hit back at Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata in a sharp and unusually personal response, escalating a political fallout within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The exchange comes just hours after Governor Kang’ata announced he will not seek re-election on a UDA ticket in 2027, citing differences in leadership style and what he described as “pressure” within the party.
“For the last few days the President has been in Murang’a…and I am being pressured to endorse programmes,to endorse him and even the pressure has come publicly including my friend Kimani Ichungwah, they have even suggested that I am not sick,” the embattled governor said.
Ichung’wah dismissed the claims shortly after and issued a statement saying his remarks to the governor during a recent public event at Kenneth Matiba Hospital were not meant to coerce him, but to call out what he termed as “hypocrisy” in Kang’ata’s political conduct.
The Kikuyu MP said their political history is well known, referencing a past meeting in Lavington during the Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment period, which he suggested involved far more intense lobbying than anything being alleged now.
“I spoke to you in public, not to pressure you, but to call out what I see as hypocrisy. We know each other well,” Ichung’wah said.
He went further, accusing the governor of dragging his name into internal political battles to gain favour with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“Stop name-dropping me to please others or edge out your competitors. Fight your own battles,” he said.
In a dramatic twist, Ichung’wah hinted at sensitive details from their past dealings, warning that a full disclosure of their Lavington meeting, including alleged use of county resources, would not favour the governor.
“Do you really want me to make public everything we discussed, including what you did with Murang’a resources? That is not in your interest,” he cautioned.
He insisted he had chosen to respond publicly because Kang’ata had taken the matter to the same platform, signalling that the dispute is far from over.
The fallout lays bare growing cracks within UDA ranks in the Mt Kenya region, as early political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election begin to take shape.
Kang’ata, while pledging to remain loyal to the party for now, has already indicated he will unveil a new political path at a later stage.
