Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua vows that the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) will not hand out direct nominations to any aspirants eyeing Nairobi seats in the 2027 elections. In a fiery press briefing at DCP headquarters in Nairobi, Gachagua warned potential defectors to seek opportunities elsewhere, declaring that his party intends to sweep all parliamentary positions in the capital while accusing the current regime of plotting ethnic exclusion reminiscent of past controversies.
Gachagua, who was impeached and removed from office in October amid allegations of insubordination and corruption, addressed a packed room of party loyalists, youth wing members, and Kikuyu community leaders. He pulled no punches, stating, “DCP Hatutapeana direct nominations. Ukitaka iyo enda karibu chama ingine.”
He further claimed ownership over UDA’s grassroots base, saying, “Supporters wa UDA wote walikua wangu na nimetoka nao. Wale wa ODM walikuwa wa Kalonzo, na ametoka nao. Sisi tutabeba viti zote Nairobi.”
The embattled politician, now positioning himself as a champion of Central Kenya interests, alleged that intelligence reports suggest the government plans to replicate the “Mbeere North script” from previous elections, where incumbent MPs allegedly used state machinery to sideline rivals.
The Mbeere North reference harks back to the 2022 polls in Embu County, where local UDA leaders were accused of manipulating primaries to favour loyalists, sparking widespread boycotts and court battles.
Gachagua did not mince words on the ethnic undertones, directly addressing President William Ruto: “We have information that this regime would like to play the Mbeere North script in 2027. I’m sorry, Mr President, you have a date with ICC. Na muwachane na wakikuyu. Sisi ni Wakenya. Hata tukichaguliwa kuna shida gani? Let nobody intimidate the Kikuyus.”
Gachagua’s pivot to DCP comes after weeks of speculation about his political future. The party, which he co-founded in 2023 as a vehicle for Mt Kenya unity, has seen a surge in memberships since his impeachment, particularly from disillusioned UDA figures in Kiambu, Nyeri, and Murang’a.
Sources within the party say Gachagua has already lined up candidates for at least 15 of Nairobi’s 17 constituencies, targeting strongholds like Dagoretti North, Mathare, and Starehe, where Kikuyu voters form a significant bloc. “We are not begging for tickets. We are building a machine that will deliver Nairobi to DCP,” one aide confided.
As the briefing wrapped, Gachagua called on Kikuyu elders to mobilise youth against what he termed “psychological warfare” from State House. “We are Kenyans first, but let no one forget our numbers. Intimidation only makes us stronger,” he concluded, to thunderous applause.
With 2027 looming, Gachagua’s DCP gambit signals a high-stakes battle for Nairobi’s soul, where ethnic arithmetic, youth energy, and old rivalries will collide. Whether it propels him to redemption or deeper isolation remains the million-shilling question.
