Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has been in the spotlight for a number of controversial issues, mostly centred around opposing Deputy President William Ruto's influence in Mt Kenya.
As other Mt Kenya leaders joined Ruto's bandwagon, Wambugu reiterated his loyalty to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On Wednesday, December 11, he declared himself Kenyatta's point man, after reports alleged that he was behind the chaos that surfaced at Ruto's Nyeri event on Sunday, December 8.
"I am Uhuru Kenyatta’s political general in Mt Kenya. I have promised to ensure that Uhuru finishes strong and I will not be distracted by political noise from tanga tanga.
"I have fought hard and put my political career on the line. I continue to resist imposed endorsement of Ruto in Mt Kenya region in 2022, and to ensure that Kenyatta is not undermined during his tenure," he posted on his Facebook page.
Wambugu alleged that Nyeri Woman Representative, Rahab Mukami was being used to popularise the DP in the county.
"I am being fought because I have refused to align myself to Ruto’s 2022 agenda. I speak out against it publicly and without shame.
"I was also the first MP from the Mt Kenya region to publicly tell off Ruto for trying to undermine Kenyatta by starting premature 2022 presidential campaigns, fighting the president's efforts to fight corruption, and badmouthing the handshake with Raila Odinga," he argued.
He proved his undying love to Kenyatta on Sunday, December 8, after he blatantly refused to address a crowd gathered by Deputy President William Ruto in Nyeri.
Ruto's allies, led by Inua Mama Chairperson, Alice Wahome, who is one of the powerful forces driving Ruto's 2022 agenda, have numerously blasted Wambugu.
"How many times will he attend an event where he is actually not the organiser and ensure that there is disruption, conflict and violence? This is a man who actually needs to be put where he belongs. If he were to behave that way in my Kandara Constituency, I would deal with him," Wahome stated on Tuesday, December 10.
Wambugu was among the first leaders to disclose that the relationship between Kenyatta and Ruto had deteriorated, despite his Jubilee counterparts denying the claims.
The first-time MP, while speaking on KTN News on Wednesday, September 4, suggested that the said rift between Uhuru and the DP was caused by Ruto's 'invasion' of Central Kenya.
"The bromance between the president and the deputy president broke when the DP started thinking that he can get Central Kenya directly without going through anyone. I do not know who gave him such a plan. All I can tell him is that Central has always operated around someone. Ruto will not take any part of Central unless he negotiates with the leadership of the region," Ngunjiri opined.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, political analyst Herman Manyora argued that Wambugu had taken a risky path in his political career, that will either break or make him, in consideration with how Mt Kenya transforms ahead of a General election.
"He is a warrior, and it's true that he may be Kenyatta's point man as he claims. However, remember Mt Kenya swiftly changes when elections approach as they tend to think of the future rather than the present. They may be already considering what will happen after Kenyatta retires and Ruto maybe takes over. That's why most of them like Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu MP) and Alice Wahome (Kandara MP) are aligning themselves to Ruto. Wambugu has stood his ground.
"If Ruto amasses full support and the region rallies behind him, Wambugu will be broken apart. If Kenyatta wins back the region, then Wambugu will have won and Ruto allies in the region will be doomed," the University of Nairobi don opined.
