Jamleck Kamau dumps Jubilee, joins Gachagua’s DCP

By Newsflash Reporter

Former Cabinet Minister Jamleck Kamau has officially parted ways with the Jubilee Party and joined the Democracy for the Citizen’s Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The announcement was made during a church service at AIPCA Kihoya in Kangema Constituency, Murang’a County, on Sunday, May 25, where Gachagua was also present.

Kamau, who once served as Kigumo MP and was a Cabinet Minister in the late President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, said his decision to join DCP was driven by a desire to align with what he called the new political direction for the Mt Kenya region.

“DCP is my new home. As a region, we shall go where Riggy-G shall direct us. From now, anyone who wants to engage the Mt Kenya region should pass through Gachagua,” Kamau told congregants during the church service.

DCP’s political rise in Mt Kenya

Kamau’s move marks a significant realignment within the region’s political landscape and comes at a time when Gachagua is attempting to consolidate his influence in Mt Kenya following his impeachment as Deputy President. Political observers view Kamau’s shift as both symbolic and strategic, signaling the slow unraveling of Jubilee’s remaining influence in central Kenya.

In 2022, Kamau ran for the Murang’a gubernatorial seat on a Jubilee ticket but lost to Irungu Kang’ata, who contested on President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) platform.

Sources close to Kamau told Newsflash that he is preparing to run again in 2027, potentially setting up a rematch with Kang’ata.

Political analyst Kamau Gichure said Kamau’s move reflects the shifting political dynamics in the region. “What we are witnessing is the collapse of the Jubilee structure and the reorganization of political forces around new centers of power.

Gachagua, despite his impeachment, is positioning himself as a rallying point for Mt Kenya politicians who feel sidelined by the Ruto administration,” Naituli explained.

Another political commentator, Martha Karanja, noted that Kamau’s public declaration of allegiance to Gachagua gives DCP a significant boost. “Kamau is not a lightweight. His endorsement of Gachagua sends a strong message to other fence-sitting leaders. It is a clear signal that the political base in Mt Kenya is gradually shifting, and many may follow suit,” she said.

Several former Jubilee Party MCA aspirants from Nairobi and Murang’a counties have also defected to DCP, further signaling a growing movement within the region.

Their exit from Jubilee appears to reinforce the sentiment that the party has lost its grip, especially after the retirement of former President Uhuru Kenyatta from active politics.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu echoed this view, stating that the region has transitioned from Uhuru’s political leadership to Gachagua’s. “We shall be consulting Uhuru for political counsel,” said Nyutu, “but the leadership of the region now rests with Gachagua.”