Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has thrown a wrench into the carefully crafted narrative surrounding Rigathi Gachagua’s recent rally in Karatina, Nyeri County.
What was touted by Gachagua’s allies as a spontaneous show of grassroots support now appears, according to Wambugu, to be a meticulously orchestrated spectacle fueled by money and political ambition.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, Wambugu took to his official Facebook page to dismantle the illusion of authenticity surrounding the Karatina rally. With biting sarcasm, he mocked the attempts to label the massive turnout as “organic,” hinting that the crowd’s enthusiasm may have been more transactional than genuine.
According to the outspoken former legislator, the impressive sea of supporters that filled Karatina was not an organic outpouring of loyalty to Rigathi Gachagua, but the result of calculated mobilisation. Wambugu alleged that politicians eyeing 2027 seats under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) banner were compelled to contribute financially to the day’s event. These contributions, he suggested, were used to bankroll the logistics of ferrying supporters to the venue.
“Until you realize how much money aspirants had to contribute for mobilisation and the crowd targets they had to bring on site,” he stated.
The allegations cast a shadow over Gachagua’s political machinery, raising uncomfortable questions about the authenticity of his support in Mt Kenya. If Wambugu’s claims hold water, Karatina may have been less a testament to Gachagua’s popularity and more a display of political theatre, an expensive illusion designed to project strength ahead of 2027.
This is not the first time the impeached Deputy President’s political events have been accused of heavy-handed mobilisation tactics. However, Wambugu’s insider perspective, given his past role as a Political Advisor to Gachagua, adds a layer of credibility and intrigue to the accusations.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the battle for political dominance in Nyeri is far from over. Ngunjiri Wambugu’s exposé has not only punctured the narrative of Rigathi Gachagua’s “organic” following but also reignited debate over the lengths to which politicians will go to manufacture public perception.
In the end, the Karatina rally may be remembered not for its crowd size, but for the controversy that followed, a reminder that in Kenyan politics, not everything that glitters is grassroots.
