Gachagua Accuses Mathira MP Wamumbi of Sharing Confidential Family Details With Ruto

Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi of sharing confidential conversations about his family and property affairs with President William Ruto.

Gachagua said he had confided in Wamumbi about sensitive family matters and details concerning ownership of key properties, only for the information to allegedly reach the President.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with grassroots mobilisers from Nyeri County on Monday, Gachagua expressed regret over what he described as his decision to trust the Mathira legislator.

The former Deputy President claimed the disclosures gave President Ruto information that was subsequently used against him and his family.

Gachagua Defends Handling of Brother's Estate

Gachagua also sought to address longstanding allegations surrounding the estate of his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, who died in 2017.

He dismissed claims that he had failed to honour his brother's will or had taken control of property that should have gone to other family members.

According to Gachagua, the estate was distributed among the beneficiaries in accordance with the family's arrangements.

“Gachagua gave his wife Margaret 5%, Karungaru 5%, his four children 10% each, my late mother 5%, myself 5% and all his sisters 1%,” he said.

Gachagua explained that the family initially attempted to sell some of the properties but struggled to find buyers.

He said his appointment as Deputy President eventually enabled the family to secure buyers, after which the proceeds were distributed among the beneficiaries.

“We tried to sell the property but there was nobody to buy it. When I became the Deputy President, they said I should use my position to find buyers and I did. We sold the property and we divided the money,” Gachagua said.

Claims Over Property Proceeds

Gachagua further claimed that family members subsequently spent the money they received from the sale of the properties.

He alleged that Wamumbi later approached some of the beneficiaries and suggested that the previously sold properties could be recovered and resold with the assistance of President Ruto.

“The children had over Ksh100 million. The wife had almost Ksh60 million each. They have used up all the money and Wamumbi has now looked for them, saying that all the sold property can be returned so that they sell again,” he said.

Gachagua questioned the manner in which information about his family affairs had allegedly been relayed to the President, arguing that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) should independently verify information presented to the Head of State.

“He (Ruto) is a funny man because he has the NIS. Instead of probing the things he has been shown by a politician, he rushes to say it without confirming,” Gachagua said.

The allegations against Wamumbi and the claims concerning the property remain Gachagua's account and have not been independently established.

Ruto Previously Accused Gachagua Over Inheritance

Gachagua's latest remarks come months after President Ruto publicly accused him of manipulating his late brother's will to benefit himself at the expense of widows and orphans.

During a development tour of western Kenya in March 2026, Ruto launched a strongly worded attack against his former deputy, accusing him of dishonesty over the inheritance dispute.

“You cannot mislead this nation, a character who has no morals, who has gone to manipulate the will of his brother to disinherit widows and orphans and he want to lecture us about stealing,” Ruto said.

The President also accused Gachagua of being involved in other serious wrongdoing, allegations that Gachagua has rejected.

The dispute over Nderitu Gachagua's estate has previously featured in political and parliamentary proceedings. Parliamentary records from October 2024 show that questions were raised over the administration and ownership of properties associated with the late governor's estate.

Political Fallout Continues

The latest accusations add another chapter to the increasingly bitter political fallout between Gachagua and President Ruto.

Gachagua, who served as Ruto's deputy from 2022 until his impeachment in 2024, has since emerged as a prominent opposition figure and has positioned his DCP within the broader political realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.

His allegations against Wamumbi also introduce a new dimension to the political dispute, bringing confidential family discussions and the administration of the late Nderitu Gachagua's estate into the centre of the confrontation.

Wamumbi's response to the latest allegations was not included in Gachagua's remarks. The claims that he shared confidential information with President Ruto, influenced beneficiaries over the properties or facilitated any attempt to recover previously sold assets would require independent verification and a response from the Mathira MP.

As the 2027 political contest gathers momentum, the continuing exchange between Gachagua and Ruto is likely to keep the former allies' personal and political differences in the national spotlight.