Kenya’s political landscape is heating up as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua unveils the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown with President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
The launch follows Gachagua’s announcement at his Karen residence, confirming months of speculation and signalling a major realignment in the Mt. Kenya region’s political power structure.
The DCP’s green, brown, and black colours reflect its grassroots ethos, while its slogan, “Kazi na Haki” (Work and Justice), and logo, a hand touching an ear, emphasise listening to the people. The party’s symbol, a tractor plough, symbolises hard work and national transformation.
Prominent opposition leaders, including Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa, Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party-Kenya, and former UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, are expected to attend the Lavington launch, hinting at a burgeoning anti-Ruto alliance.
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, a close Gachagua ally, called the launch a turning point. “They’ve tried luring our allies, but we’re undeterred. From today, it’s full speed ahead,” he declared.
Registered on February 3, 2025, with headquarters at Riara Centre, Nairobi, the DCP boasts a leadership team of emerging figures, including Mably Owino, Hussein Athman, Laura Njeri, Abdifatah Abdullahi, Joy Gatugi, and Brenda Banjira.
Once a key figure in the Kenya Kwanza administration, Gachagua now positions himself as Ruto’s chief rival, accusing the President of economic mismanagement and authoritarianism. “How can a nation like Kenya be stifled by callous, outdated leadership? How can leaders ignore the economic struggles of over 50 million taxpayers while poor service delivery becomes the norm?” he recently challenged.
Gachagua’s resurgence follows months of quiet mobilisation from his Wamunyoro home in Mathira, where he rallied grassroots leaders and former Cabinet officials. A key strategy meeting on April 29 included Matiang’i, Kalonzo, Karua, and former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi.
With alliances shifting and Mt. Kenya at the heart of Kenya’s power contest, Gachagua’s DCP could reshape the electoral landscape. Whether he can sustain this momentum and mount a credible challenge to Ruto remains uncertain, but the 2027 race is undeniably underway.
