Mwangaza scolds Linturi over entry into Gachagua camp without own political party
Former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has fiercely criticised former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, accusing him of opportunistically joining Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s camp without the political backing of his own party.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Mwenda Saba on the night of Sunday, May 4, 2025, Mwangaza expressed her concerns about the lack of negotiation power that comes with joining a coalition without a political party.
She emphasised that Linturi would add little value to Gachagua’s camp without a party of his own, noting that leaders like Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Justin Muturi were only welcomed into the alliance because they showed up with established parties already in place.
“You saw former Speaker JB Muturi go to Gachagua with his party, called DP, and they went singing and were welcomed. That is one. Martha Karua also carried her party, called the PLP party, and they went and were welcomed. Matiang’i also carried the Jubilee Party and was welcomed. Kalonzo Musyoka went with the Wiper Party and was welcomed. Eugene Wamalwa went with the DAP-K party and was welcomed,” Mwangaza pointed out.
She stressed that the leaders who had joined Gachagua with their own political parties had the ability to negotiate for key positions in the coalition, unlike those without a party base.
Mwangaza explained that this same political leverage had eluded her when she was in office, making her governance difficult as she struggled to maintain support from local MCAs.
“The people who will be given top seats in that coalition are only those who have their own parties, because they have negotiation power—like the one I lacked back then and which is why I faced so much turbulence from MCAs,” she said, highlighting the key role of party affiliation in securing political power.
Mwangaza’s remarks quickly turned scathing, branding Linturi’s move a blunder and insisting he should have been more tactical instead of hastily latching onto Gachagua’s side.
She appeared baffled by his ability to secure any political leverage in such a scenario, given the strategic moves by other leaders who brought their own parties.
“Now our son Linturi has just fixed himself there blindly, but I wonder what does he have that makes him an asset?” Mwangaza asked, casting doubt on Linturi’s political strength without a party of his own.
The former governor also pointed out that had Linturi come to the coalition with a party like PNU, led by Peter Munya, the situation would have been different, as such a party would offer negotiating power.
Mwangaza’s frustration was palpable as she reiterated her belief that Linturi’s position lacked the kind of substance needed to secure meaningful representation for Meru.
“If it is Peter Munya who has thrown himself into Gachagua with his PNU party, we would say that that is negotiable. But this Linturi has nothing,” she said.
Meru politics
Beyond her criticism of Linturi, Mwangaza also reflected on Meru’s political future, stressing the importance of the region developing its own political muscle.
She warned that without the leverage of a strong party, Meru would continue to suffer in national negotiations, forced to rely on individuals rather than collective power.
“What I don’t want is for us as Meru people to suffer and to negotiate with other leaders without our own power and our own party,” Mwangaza said firmly.
Mwangaza revealed that she has been working tirelessly for the past three months to establish her own political party, with plans to officially launch it in the near future.
She shared that the party is now ready and that her focus is on empowering Meru people to engage in national politics from a position of strength.
“I have been praying to God for direction. The party is ready. We Meru people will go to join other people when we are prepared. We will not go as individual people,” she said, demonstrating her commitment to Meru’s political empowerment.
Mwangaza, who then urged Meru politicians to grasp the strategic significance of party politics to become impactful political assets in the future, further lamented that Linturi could easily be influenced by shifting political tides and change his allegiance at any moment.
She went as far as to suggest that it wouldn’t surprise her to see Linturi end up in UDA or any other party if things went awry, insisting that the former CS was highly vulnerable to political manipulation due to his lack of the critical bargaining power that comes with leading a well-established party.
“For example, that Linturi, where he has gone to join Gachagua without a party, if anything chaotic were to happen, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear him in UDA,” she remarked, suggesting that Linturi’s position in Gachagua’s camp may be tenuous at best.
