Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday hosted delegations from Mathioya and Kangema at his Wamunyoro residence, where he sought to calm growing concerns over divisions among opposition parties in the Mt. Kenya region.
Addressing the delegations, Gachagua dismissed claims that his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) was pushing for the dissolution of other regional parties, insisting that DCP welcomes all political formations.
DCP and Rigathi Gachagua welcome all parties
GACHAGUA
The former Deputy President pointed to the Mbeere North parliamentary by-election, where DCP backed the Democratic Party (DP) candidate instead of fielding its own aspirant, saying the move demonstrated his commitment to working with like-minded parties rather than undermining them.
Gachagua attributed DCP’s rapid growth to grassroots mobilization by himself and other opposition leaders across the Mt. Kenya region and beyond, urging leaders of other parties to similarly build support within their own political bases. He cited the July 16 Ol Kalou by-election, where DCP secured victory, as evidence that strengthening individual parties would ultimately benefit the broader opposition.
Amid reports of friction involving DCP, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), the Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Democratic Party (DP) over the opposition’s strategy in Mt. Kenya, Gachagua maintained that regional parties would unite behind a single presidential candidate while remaining free to compete for other elective seats.
He ruled out coalition negotiations at this stage, saying his immediate focus is consolidating DCP’s support base while encouraging other opposition leaders to strengthen their respective parties before formal coalition talks begin.
Gachagua also called on opposition leaders to convene a meeting to develop a joint strategy for protecting votes in next year’s General Election, brushing aside Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s warning against such initiatives.
His remarks come as the opposition continues to grapple with differences over the formation of a joint presidential ticket and the sharing of political space ahead of the 2027 General Election, with internal disagreements increasingly coming into the open.
