Uhuru Bleeds as Politicians Dump Jubilee for Gachagua’s DCP

Jubilee Party is losing some of its familiar political faces to Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), with a string of senior politicians and election hopefuls crossing the floor as the 2027 contest begins to take shape.

Among those who have already made the jump are EALA MP Kanini Kega, Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan Abdi, former Othaya MP Gichuki Mugambi and former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau.

Nakuru gubernatorial hopeful Joel Maina Kairu and nominated Kajiado MCA Caroline Ndeti have also ditched the party, adding to a growing list of politicians now seeking political fortunes under Gachagua’s banner.

For Jubilee, the departures come at a delicate moment. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta remains at the helm of the party, while former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has emerged as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

DCP, meanwhile, is using every new arrival to reinforce its claim that it is becoming a formidable political vehicle ahead of the next election.

Also Read: Gachagua Welcomes 10 ODM and UDA Politicians to DCP 

Kega, Yusuf and former MPs make the switch

Kega’s departure is among the most politically significant moves in the latest wave of defections.

A long-time Jubilee ally, Kega has now chosen to pitch his political tent with Gachagua as the former deputy president seeks to consolidate a new political base ahead of 2027.

Yusuf Hassan has followed suit, taking his Kamukunji political machinery into DCP. His move gives Gachagua’s party another recognisable parliamentary figure as it seeks to expand its reach beyond its traditional strongholds.

Former Othaya MP Gichuki Mugambi has also crossed over, bringing his experience from the constituency that sits at the heart of Mt Kenya politics.

Former Kigumo MP and Cabinet minister Jamleck Kamau is another notable entrant. His political experience gives DCP an additional veteran voice at a time when the party is courting politicians with established networks.

Together, the moves paint a picture of a party exodus that goes beyond a single politician looking for a new political home.

Aspirants are also betting on Gachagua

While established politicians are making the switch, DCP is also attracting leaders already positioning themselves for elective seats in 2027.

Joel Maina Kairu, a Nakuru gubernatorial aspirant and chairman of Nakuru Jubilee aspirants, is among those who have moved to Gachagua’s party.

His defection is significant because gubernatorial contests are often driven by strong local networks, political alliances and the ability of a candidate to secure a party ticket capable of mobilising voters.

Caroline Ndeti has similarly left Jubilee for DCP. As a nominated MCA representing Kaputei North Ward in Kajiado County, her move gives the party another foothold outside its strongest political base.

For aspirants, party choice is rarely just about ideology. It can determine who controls the nomination machinery, who gets access to grassroots networks and, ultimately, who stands the best chance of appearing on the ballot.

That calculation is already shaping political movements long before Kenyans head to the polling stations.

Also Read:Jubilee–PNU Alliance Backs Dr. Fred Matiang’i for 2027 Presidential Bid

Why Jubilee is losing its political muscle

Behind the defections is a familiar reality in Kenyan politics: politicians want to be where they believe the electoral wind is blowing.

DCP has been building momentum around Gachagua’s political influence, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.

Leaders joining the party appear keen to align themselves with that momentum rather than wait for the next election cycle to decide which political vehicle will dominate their backyard.

Jubilee’s own internal struggles have also complicated matters. Factional battles and uncertainty over the party’s organisational strength have made it harder to convince some politicians that it remains the safest vehicle for the next election.

Questions surrounding the party’s structures and compliance have added another layer of uncertainty.

For politicians with ambitions for 2027, those concerns cannot easily be ignored. A party may have a recognisable name, but without functioning grassroots structures and a clear route to nominations, its political value can quickly diminish.

DCP is offering a different proposition: a relatively new vehicle led by a politician already working aggressively to build a national opposition network.

Gachagua turns defections into a political statement

Every politician walking into Gachagua’s camp now carries more than a membership card.

Their arrival gives DCP an opportunity to project strength as opposition parties compete to establish who will command the political space ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua has repeatedly received defectors and political delegations at his Wamunyoro residence, turning such gatherings into highly visible demonstrations of his growing political network.

Jubilee, on its part, is trying to prevent the departures from becoming a wider narrative of political decline. With Matiang’i positioned as its presidential candidate, the party will have to convince its remaining leaders and supporters that it still has the machinery to compete nationally.

That contest is likely to become sharper as the election draws closer.

For now, Kega, Yusuf Hassan, Mugambi, Kamau, Kairu and Ndeti have made their choice.

Whether their decisions mark the beginning of a much larger Jubilee exodus or simply another round of Kenya’s familiar pre-election political realignments will become clearer as 2027 approaches.

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IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon. PHOTO/ IEBC