Jubilee Rift Emerges as Ngunjiri Wambugu Rebukes Matiang’i Over Focus on Gachagua

A simmering disagreement has surfaced within the Jubilee Party after former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu criticized remarks by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i that referenced former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a party discussion.

Wambugu warned that repeatedly bringing up Gachagua in internal party forums risks portraying Jubilee as a political outfit reacting to the influence of others rather than charting its own course ahead of the 2027 General Election.

According to Wambugu, mentioning Gachagua during Jubilee deliberations inadvertently elevates the former deputy president as the dominant political figure in the Mount Kenya region.

He argued that such rhetoric undermines the party’s effort to rebuild its presence and credibility among voters.

“If Jubilee continues framing its conversations around the moves of other leaders, it risks appearing directionless,” Wambugu reportedly noted, urging party officials to focus on strengthening their own agenda instead.

The former Nyeri legislator insisted that Jubilee must maintain a distinct identity separate from both the ruling coalition and emerging opposition alliances.

Wambugu said the party should concentrate on grassroots mobilization, policy development, and reconnecting with voters rather than engaging in personality-driven political debates.

He added that Jubilee’s legacy of governance and development should form the foundation of its strategy as it prepares for the next electoral cycle.

Matiang’i, who has increasingly been mentioned as a potential presidential contender within Jubilee, is seen by some party members as a key figure capable of revitalizing the party’s national appeal.

However, Wambugu’s remarks reflect unease among some leaders in the Mount Kenya region who fear that aggressive opposition politics could alienate voters who still maintain loyalty to regional figures such as Gachagua.

The disagreement highlights deeper tensions within opposition politics in the Mount Kenya region as parties and leaders reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

While some factions within Jubilee appear open to forming broader coalitions with opposition groups, others are pushing for the party to rebuild independently and avoid being overshadowed by larger political formations.