Kenyan newspapers on Saturday, March 14, highlighted the increase in tension within the DCP party and the new tactics of the Opposition as it strengthened plans to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Source: UGC
1. Saturday Nation
According to the newspaper, a fierce internal conflict has emerged within the Democratic People’s Party (DCP), revealing deep divisions as the party strives to consolidate influence in the key political region of Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The dispute is based on how the main leadership of the party, led by Rigathi Gachagua and his deputy Cleophas Malala, as you recruit new followers across the region.
What started as a push to expand the party’s scope has now led to accusations of sabotage, mistrust and political hostility within the emerging party.
The tension escalated after Kirinyaga women’s representative Njeri Maina publicly accused Malala of secretly organizing a separatist group intended to undermine Gachagua’s leadership.
The allegations followed a private meeting Malala reportedly held with several members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly in Murang’a.
Maina claimed the meeting was part of a plan to disrupt the party from within.
However, Malala quickly dismissed the accusations, insisting that the meeting was a routine one to prepare the local leaders before the planned visit to Gachagua.
Head of DCP strategy, Dr. Peter Mbae, also defended the deputy leader, saying that the mobilization had the full support of the party leader and was aimed at expanding the political reach of the party.
Despite the internal friction, Gachagua quickly took steps to show unity by welcoming the same MCAs from Kirinyaga to his residence in Wamunyoro.
During the meeting, the ward leaders reportedly pledged allegiance to the party, saying their constituents directed them to support the DCP as the defender of Mt Kenya’s political interests.
Beyond the internal tension, the party’s expansion movement has caused concern within the Jubilee Party associated with the former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Some Jubilee people accuse Gachagua of forcibly exploiting the spectrum of party supporters across Mt Kenya.
Meanwhile, several politicians and candidates have already switched allegiance to the DCP, signaling a growing shift in the region’s political landscape.
Gachagua insists that the rapid growth of the party shows the will of the voters and insists that the DCP will make an open selection when it positions itself for 2027.
2. The Saturday Standard
The publication reports that the family of missing activist Johana Lang’at, popularly known as Kamilan, has issued a 24-hour warning to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, demanding clarification on her whereabouts.
Through their lawyer, Kipkoech Ng’etich, the family asked the police chief to quickly confirm whether Kamilan is being held by the police and, if so, to reveal the special facility where he is being held.
They also demanded that the authorities allow his relatives and legal representatives to reach him immediately, bring him to court without delay, or release him if no charges are filed.
Kamilan was reportedly arrested on March 5 by officers believed to be linked to the National Police Service in Emurua Dikirr. Since then, his whereabouts are unknown.
The family said they have made repeated efforts to locate him, including visiting several police stations and hospitals, but have received no information on his whereabouts.
The disappearance was officially reported at the Emurua Dikirr Police Station under OB No. 10/8/3/2026 on March 8.
Ng’etich said that the continued silence from the authorities raises serious concerns about Kamilan’s safety and may be a violation of the constitutional protection of personal freedom and the rights of the arrested persons.
The family warned that legal action will be taken against the government if the information sought is not provided within the stipulated time.
The disappearance has also caused public concern and on Thursday, March 12, residents of Emurua Dikirr staged a protest, demanding that the authorities reveal the location of Kamilan.
His mother, Juliana Maritim, said the family has searched hospitals including Emurua Dikirr Level 4, Longisa, Litein, Tenwek and Kaplong, without success.
His wife, Nancy, remembered seeing him for the last time during Johana Ng’eno’s funeral, where he was allegedly beaten by a group of youths before disappearing.
Since then, the family say they have been left heartbroken, searching for answers as pressure mounts on police to explain the activist’s fate.
3. Weekend Star
According to the publication, Kenya’s emerging opposition is quietly devising a political strategy that it hopes will deny him William Ruto second term by borrowing tactics from the historic 2002 elections that ended KANU’s long reign.
Insiders within the opposition reveal that leaders are considering forming a broad coalition and postponing the announcement of their joint presidential candidate until shortly before the 2027 General Election.
The plan mirrors the tactics used by the National Rainbow Alliance in 2002 when opposition figures rallied behind Mwai Kibaki just weeks before the vote, catching the government off guard.
Among the groups that are expected to strengthen the coalition is the group associated with Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka and the ODM group led by Edwin Sifuna.
Their broad objective is to strengthen opposition strongholds while attracting disaffected voters, especially from the politically influential Mount Kenya region.
Several parties are already joining the emerging coalition, including Wiper, DAP-Kenya, People’s Liberation Party, National Unity Party, Democratic Party and Jubilee.
Analysts say the strategy is designed to reduce the time available to mount a counter-campaign.
However, political observers are still divided on whether the opposition can replicate the success of 2002.
Some argue that building a strong coalition requires more than unity, pointing to the need for strong messaging, mobilization and national appeal.
Others believe delaying the reveal of a candidate can create momentum and protect the nominee from early political attacks.
However, disagreements still remain among opposition leaders over time, revealing internal tensions even as they try to build a coalition that can challenge the incumbent president in 2027.
4. Nation Today
A Kiswahili newspaper reports that a family in Murang’a County is dealing with grief and shock after the body of a 44-year-old woman was found inside a village house under disturbing circumstances that initially caused fears of religious activities.
The woman, identified as Mercy Wamaitha from Kiamakumi village in Maragua State, was found dead on March 8 in a room with mud walls.
His body was discovered in a situation that worried neighbors and investigators, especially after it was reported that a bucket of blood was found at the scene.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation who visited the house for the first time were allegedly unsettled by the discovery.
Witnesses claimed that the officers left the scene without removing the bucket. Murang’a South Deputy County Commissioner, Bernard Odinoh, later ordered them to return and remove it after several days.
However, preliminary findings by the Murang’a police commander, Kemboi Kimaiyo, indicate that the killings may have resulted from a love triangle dispute rather than sectarian activities.
Investigation shows that Wamaitha was married to Macharia wa Njeri and the couple had six children.
However, their relationship had been troubled in recent years, with Wamaitha frequently leaving home to find domestic work in nearby towns.
Police say he was recently staying at the home of a man identified as Justus Kamau, who is now the main suspect in the case and has already been arraigned as detectives seek more time to complete the investigation.
Her husband expressed great sadness, saying he had tried repeatedly to reconcile with her. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his last days.
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