Nairobi MCAs ditch UDA for Gachagua’s DCP
The political transfer season is gaining momentum as the clock ticks towards August 10, 2026 General Election.
By Adieri Mulaa
Twelve Members of Nairobi City County Assembly (MCAs) and several grassroots leaders aligned to President William Ruto’s UDA party have crossed to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
In what appears like President Ruto being treated to his own dose, the shift is akin to the scenario in 2022, when there was an exodus of MCAs from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party to UDA party.
In the run up to the last elections, President Kenyatta had fallen out with his deputy, Ruto. He threw his weight behind the then Azimio presidential candidate and ODM party leader, Raila Odinga.
But quietly, in his political charisma, Ruto effectively converted the deputy president’s official residence to a beehive of campaign activities. The deputy president used the platform to woe grassroots and national leaders, including Members of Parliament and MCAs, mama mboga, and boda boda to UDA party.
His political onslaught dealt Uhuru and Raila a devastating blow that would eventually cost Azimio Coalition the seat of Nairobi governor, and of course the presidency.
Acting with clear precision, Ruto first raided Nairobi City County Assembly, where majority of Jubilee Party MCAs left to join UDA. He then shifted his focus to the National Assembly, where he converted Jubilee Party MPs in Nairobi City to his UDA party.
If there is one thing President Ruto worries about, is being a president of Kenya, while political control of the capital city lies in the hands of the opposition (minority).
In the last General Election, out of 85 Wards in Nairobi, UDA party garnered 36 elected MCAs and 17 special elect (nominated), making a total of 53. ODM party got 35 Ward representatives and 17 nominated, all totaling 52.
The Jubilee Party secured five elected Members of County Assembly and earned four nomination slots, making a total of nine. Wiper Party got four elected MCAs and two nomination slots, making a total of six.
The numbers gave Azimio Coalition, which brought together ODM, Wiper and Jubilee Party a narrow margin to take the majority party leadership in Nairobi County Assembly. Kenya Kwanza, which comprised UDA among other parties, settled for the minority party.
But UDA party won the governor’s seat through Johnson Sakaja and four seats in the National Assembly. President Ruto had achieved his desire of ensuring that UDA takes executive control of the city. With majority Members in the county assembly, Azimio Coalition elected Kennedy Ng’ondi as the Speaker.
It is evident though, that UDA party won the County Assembly and National Assembly seats in Nairobi, largely with the political advantage of Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate. Gachagua galvanised a huge percentage of Mt Kenya bloc vote to President Ruto’s favour.
Today, following Gachagua’s impeachment, Today, three UDA MPs out of four, namely Benjamin Gathiru aka Mejjadonk (Embakasi Central), James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North), and Augustine Kamande Mwafrika (Roysambu), have already decamped to DCP. Only Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie is left in UDA.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, twelve UDA Members of Nairobi City County Assembly moved to align themselves with DCP. It is a political blow to President Ruto’s party.
Political pundits in the capital city say more MCAs are expected to move from UDA to DCP. Other MCAs, especially those in ODM are said to be awaiting signals for a party associated with Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement to shift camp.
The MCAs were received at DCP headquarters by the party Secretary General, and Nyandarua County Senator, John Methu.
While this is happening, the political landscape in Nairobi is strongly shifting towards the opposition, in favour of DCP and Linda Mwananchi movement.
Unlike the previous General Election, President Ruto has an uphill task to navigate in the capital city. Analysts have linked this to the reasons he quickly intervened to resolve complaints of high taxation that were raised by small-scale traders and hawkers in Nairobi.
On Wednesday, the president directly slashed import taxation for the small-scale traders and ordered Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to role back a controversial customs valuation hike that had been imposed.
Ruto’s intervention followed extensive protests and business shutdown that was staged by the small-scale traders that occurred on September 2, 2026.
The protests and business shutdown happened in Nairobi central business district, interrupting many other services. They involved small-scale traders from major hubs in Nairobi, including Kamukunji, Gikomba and Nyamakima.
The KRA recently raised the minimum risk-management clearance fee for a 40-foot consolidated container, from Ksh 2.5 million to Ksh 3.2 million.
Following a meeting between the president and the traders at State House on September 2, the Head of State directed KRA to restore the tax benchmark back to Sh2.5 million.
There were extra internal directives, to drop the benchmark further, to two million shillings for general cargo, to cushion small businesses from ballooning operational costs.
The lowered rates will strictly apply to general consolidated cargo. Observers in the business and political spheres have hinted that President Ruto’s quick intervention carries political connotations aimed at weighing down on the rising opposition wave in Nairobi city.
Linda Mwananchi movement is scheduled to hold a political tour dubbed – back to base in Nairobi City on Sunday, September 13, 2026 dubbed. Nairobi is the political base of Senator Sifuna, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who has declared interest in Nairobi governor’s seat.
