Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially broken ranks with the political establishment that once propelled him to national prominence, unveiling his own political vehicle, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), in a colourful ceremony at the party’s newly inaugurated headquarters on Musa Gitau Road in Nairobi’s Lavington suburb on Thursday May 15, 2025.
The Thursday launch marks Gachagua’s boldest step yet toward reclaiming political relevance and laying the groundwork for a presidential bid in the 2027 general election.
The new party, splashed in vibrant neon green, earthy brown, and crisp white, touts the slogan ‘Skiza Wakenya’ – a Swahili phrase meaning ‘Listen to Kenyans’. Its logo, an illustrated ear cupped by fingers, drives home the message: a party that hears the people.
Speaking at the event, Gachagua stressed that his new political outfit would not dish out direct nominations as has been the case with other major political parties in the country.
“Let me clarify for the avoidance of doubt. This party has no favourite candidate. This party has no provision for direct nomination. This party believes in ‘let the people decide’,” Gachagua said.
Flanked by a coterie of loyalists and former political heavyweights, Gachagua struck a populist tone while warning his closest allies that loyalty alone would not be a ticket to power within DCP.
“I have many leaders who have stood with me in very difficult times, who have walked with me in my journey. But I want to confirm close as they are to me, much as they have stood with me, none of them is entitled to a direct nomination. So I want to encourage everybody to be prepared to face each other in the party primaries,” Gachagua said.
Old guard, new banner
The DCP’s interim leadership reads like a who’s who of Kenya’s recent political history.
Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala assumes the role of Deputy Party Leader, while former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi becomes National Organising Secretary.
Former Laikipia Women Representative Cate Waruguru has been tapped to lead the party’s women’s wing, and ex-Starehe MP Maina Kamanda will chair the newly formed Council of Eminent Persons – a group likely to shape the party’s ideological direction.
The launch is more than a rebranding exercise – it is Gachagua’s declaration of political independence after months of speculation, setbacks, and a dramatic fall from grace within President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Once considered the President’s closest lieutenant, Gachagua has spent the past year building a support base outside of the State House’s shadow.
Political analysts see DCP as a vehicle not just for personal ambition, but also as a rallying point for leaders disillusioned with the existing party machinery.
Listening to the Kenyans?
The party’s slogan, ‘Skiza Wakenya’, signals an attempt to align with Kenya’s politically restless middle and working class – an electorate increasingly sceptical of elite deals and party gatekeeping.
Whether this populist messaging will translate into real grassroots support remains uncertain.
What is clear is that Gachagua is betting on the very political alienation that cost him his spot in UDA’s inner circle.
By promising a platform free of favourites and backroom deals, DCP is attempting to ride the same wave of disaffection that brought down political giants in past elections.
Yet critics say the party’s formation is as much about personal survival as it is about national transformation.
With the political terrain shifting quickly ahead of the 2027 polls, Gachagua’s move might also be a preemptive strike to consolidate regional influence and bargain from a position of strength.
From DP to disruptor
Once a staunch defender of the Kenya Kwanza coalition, Gachagua now emerges as its most visible breakaway figure.
His journey – from Deputy President to political insurgent – reflects the fluid, often unforgiving nature of Kenyan power politics.
As the sun set over the Musa Gitau Road headquarters, Gachagua’s supporters danced and waved party flags, sensing a new chapter had begun.
But whether DCP will become a national force or just another footnote in the country’s crowded political history remains to be seen.
For now, Rigathi Gachagua has made his move. The question is: will Kenyans listen?
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works – a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
