Moments after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concluded the unveiling of his new political vehicle—Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP)—chaos briefly erupted outside the venue in Lavington, Nairobi, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Police officers were forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse an agitated crowd that surged towards the gate shortly after Gachagua and his entourage departed the premises.
A video clip circulating online shows a man, believed to be a police officer, attempting to restore order as crowds jostled at the congested exit.
“Remove the vehicle!” shouted one of the police as vehicles momentarily stalled amid the commotion.
The situation was, however, swiftly brought under control, and no injuries were reported.
Earlier, Gachagua had officially launched the DCP at a colourfully branded headquarters, complete with a neon green and white theme and the slogan Skiza Wakenya (Listen to Kenyans).
Slogan
The party’s logo features a listening ear,symbolic of the party’s rallying call to leaders to genuinely heed the voices of ordinary citizens.
“Today, we finally have a party that belongs to the people. Our party is built on listening. Leaders must deliberately listen, plan around it, and act accordingly,” Gachagua said in his address.
He also named former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala as interim deputy party leader and former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi as National Organising Secretary.
The launch comes amid shifting political alliances, with Gachagua positioning DCP as a people-centered alternative to what he described as “top-down leadership” that fails to engage the public meaningfully.
Though the launch proceeded without major disruptions, the post-event flare-up underscores the volatile nature of Kenya’s political landscape as the 2027 polls draw closer.
