DCP leaders accuse Ruto government of sabotaging opposition-allied counties

Speaking during a political rally at Ciumbu Market in Maragua Constituency, Murang'a County, the leaders claimed that the national government was using administrative measures to undermine governors who have declined to support the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

The leaders singled out the disruption of Murang'a County's digital health management system, which they claimed had affected service delivery across 170 health facilities.

Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata accused the national government of interfering with the county's health records system, claiming that patients' medical histories had become inaccessible, complicating treatment and putting residents at risk.

"The government took the medical records of Murang'a residents from our hospitals and made them disappear. Our doctors now do not know the names of patients or their medical histories," Kang'ata claimed.

The governor maintained that his administration had invested heavily in digitising healthcare services over the past four years, including introducing telemedicine and systems to support patients suffering from chronic illnesses.

He questioned the decision to interfere with the county's existing infrastructure, arguing that the national government's Social Health Authority (SHA) system lacked some of the services already available through the county platform.

Kang'ata further alleged that the disruption was politically motivated, insisting that he would not abandon DCP despite pressure from the government.

"Whatever they do to us, we will not leave DCP," he declared, adding that the county expected to restore the affected services within two weeks.

Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu echoed the allegations, accusing the government of transferring patients' medical data from the county's system to a privately managed platform without adequately considering the consequences for healthcare delivery.

"We know that you are deliberately interfering with county governments, especially when the governors do not support you," Nyutu said.

He further accused the administration of targeting Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya because of his political position.

"We know what you are doing in Trans Nzoia because Governor Natembeya does not support you. It is not the governors who have a problem with you, it is the people of Kenya," he added.

DCP Secretary General John Methu and Kajiado North MP Titus Ngogoyo also criticised the alleged interference, accusing the government of using state institutions to intimidate opposition-aligned leaders.

Mukurweini MP John Kagucia raised concerns over the alleged withdrawal of Governor Natembeya's security detail, claiming that opposition politicians were increasingly facing intimidation.

Kagucia further alleged that he had personally faced harassment, including arrests on what he described as trumped-up charges.

The leaders maintained that political differences between the national government and county administrations should not interfere with the provision of essential services to residents.

The allegations come amid growing political tensions between the Kenya Kwanza administration and leaders allied to the United Opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The claims of deliberate interference with Murang'a's health system and the alleged targeting of opposition-allied governors have not been independently verified.