Sifuna Labels Gathoni Wamuchomba “UDA Informer Planted to Spy on Opposition”
In the latest twist in Kenya's fluid political landscape, Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has dismissed recent reports of Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba rejoining President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as anything but a victory for the ruling party.
Wamuchomba, who had previously aligned with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's camp and was associated with emerging opposition efforts alongside figures like Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, attended a high-profile UDA National Governing Council meeting at State House. This move sparked widespread speculation about defections from opposition-leaning groups back to the ruling fold.
However, Sifuna has strongly pushed back against claims that UDA has scored a meaningful win. In his view, Wamuchomba was never a true defector or committed opposition voice but rather an informer strategically placed to infiltrate and gather intelligence on rival camps.
"UDA didn’t gain anything here. She was just an informer sent to infiltrate the other parties by UDA from the beginning," Sifuna reportedly stated, echoing a narrative that has gained traction among some opposition supporters.
This perspective aligns with similar dismissals in political circles, where defections to UDA are increasingly framed not as organic shifts but as pre-planned operations. For instance, in related cases involving other politicians moving from parties like DCP (Democratic Congress Party) back to UDA, leaders have labeled such individuals as "moles" or planted agents whose return was always anticipated.
The development comes amid heightened tensions in Kenya's political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. Wamuchomba had been part of a loose coalition of young parliamentarians critical of the government, often seen in the company of vocal ODM figures like Sifuna. Her apparent return to UDA has been described in some quarters as a "shock" or "betrayal," particularly given her past criticisms of the administration.
Sifuna's sharp reaction underscores a broader strategy among opposition leaders to downplay the impact of such moves. By portraying Wamuchomba's shift as an intelligence-gathering ploy rather than a loss, Sifuna aims to maintain morale within ODM and allied groups while questioning the authenticity of UDA's reported momentum from defections.
As political realignments continue to unfold, this episode highlights the deep mistrust and tactical maneuvering defining Kenya's multi-party dynamics. Neither Sifuna nor Wamuchomba has issued further public clarifications at the time of this report, but the senator's comments have fueled online debates about loyalty, espionage, and the true nature of political defections in the country.
