Former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu has launched a scathing attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following the performance of his Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP) candidate, Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, in the upcoming Olkalou by-election.
In a statement shared on social media on Monday, July 6, 2026, Wambugu accused Gachagua of making a “strategic mistake” by allowing his preferred candidate to appear on a televised debate ahead of the July 16 poll.
Wambugu said the move exposed what he described as the candidate’s lack of preparedness, arguing that the appearance had damaged the DCP’s image in the competitive race.
“Jofri should have kept his Ol Kalou candidate away from TV, then no one would have known the fellow is clueless until after the elections. But now we can all see the kind of people Jofri will run under his party,” Wambugu wrote.
The remarks came a day after a live debate featuring all candidates vying for the Olkalou parliamentary seat aired on a local television station on Sunday, July 5. The debate offered voters a chance to assess the contenders’ policies and leadership abilities ahead of the by-election.
The Olkalou race has emerged as a major political showdown between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Gachagua’s newly formed DCP, which is seeking to establish itself as a formidable force in Central Kenya politics.
