Cathy Irungu and Betty Maina Trade Barbs as Old Mathira Political Battles Resurface

MATHIRA, Nyeri County — August 22, 2026

A political exchange involving Mathira MP aspirant Cathy Irungu and Murang’a County Woman Representative Betty Maina has brought renewed attention to the often bitter political battles that have characterised Mathira politics.

The exchange followed remarks attributed by Cathy to former Mathira MP and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, in which she said Betty and former Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Wanjiru Chege had been subjected to insults.

In an open letter addressed to Betty, Cathy said she was saddened by the alleged remarks and recalled her own experiences in Mathira politics, particularly her past political relationship with current Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, Betty’s husband.

Cathy claimed that she supported Wamumbi during his early political campaigns, saying she introduced him to some of her political networks when he was seeking the Mathira parliamentary seat.

“I supported Eric and took him to his first campaign tours and introduced him to my networks,” Cathy wrote.

According to Cathy, their relationship later deteriorated after Wamumbi allegedly joined forces with her political opponents and campaigned against her.

She further alleged that during a political gathering at Ndimaini Secondary School, Wamumbi and Gachagua subjected her and members of her family to insulting remarks.

Cathy said the experience was particularly painful because her late father, who was elderly and unwell at the time, was at their nearby home and could hear the confrontation.

She also described what she said was a period of political isolation during the 2021–2022 election period, claiming that her political associations placed her at odds with local leaders and supporters.

Cathy's central argument was that the insults Betty is currently facing reminded her of what she says she experienced years earlier.

“Betty, I was disheartened when you were insulted but I feel like you are paying for someone else's sins!” Cathy wrote.

Cathy urged Betty to use her political influence to advocate for what she described as “political hygiene”, arguing that political disagreements should not descend into personal attacks or insults.

She concluded by saying she had forgiven Eric Wamumbi and other political figures over the alleged incidents, although she acknowledged that she had not forgotten what happened.

Betty Maina responded directly to Cathy's post, rejecting the suggestion that she needed sympathy over the political attacks.

In a brief but pointed response, Betty said she had a “thick skin” and advised Cathy to address her political disagreements with Eric Wamumbi and Rigathi Gachagua without involving her.

“If you were hurt today, I am not hurt. I have a thick skin,” Betty said.

She added that she should not be held responsible for mistakes attributed to her husband or other politicians.

“I am not paying for his mistakes,” she wrote.

Betty also acknowledged that she had faced personal attacks before, saying the allegations and insults were not new to her.

“This is not the first time in life I have been referred to as a prostitute,” Betty wrote.

Her response ended with a statement that underlined her defiance:

“Mimi usinihurumie, mimi ni gaidi.”

The public exchange has opened a wider conversation about the nature of political competition in Mathira, where rivalries between politicians and their supporters have frequently generated heated exchanges.

Cathy's post seeks to connect Betty's current experience with what she says she endured during earlier election campaigns, while Betty's response makes clear that she does not view herself as a victim requiring sympathy.