Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has told off critics who claim his prospects in national politics are long dead following the United Opposition's loss in the Mbeere North by-election.
Gachagua, speaking for the first time after the mini-polls, suggested that the loss was because his party didn't have a party, despite him making himself the face of the campaign.
He cited the wins his party secured in other areas, noting that it was a good sign to establish a presence with the victories.
DCP won three ward by-elections: Kariobangi North in Nairobi, Kisa East (Kakamega) and Narok Town (Narok).
Seeming to detach himself from the loss in Mbeere North, Gachagua explained that he only went there to help the Democratic Party (DP) candidate, adding that his focus is on the DCP party.
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"Don't be bothered by what happened in Mbeere North. DCP didn't have a candidate there. We had candidates in Kariobangi North, Narok Town and Kisa East, and we won. We were defeated slightly in Purko and Magarini. A seven-month-old party won three out of five seats. I just went to help DP in Mbeere North. They won, but they were denied their win. We now focus on our party DCP," Gachagua said.
Meanwhile, Gachagua revealed that his party was strategising on how to sweep Nairobi in the 2027 vote.
According to him, the win in Kariobangi North was a step in the right direction.
He stated that he had reached an agreement with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to have the DCP take the major seats in the city.
Gachagua said his party was targeting the governor, senator and woman representative's posts.
Additionally, the party will seek to have candidates in 16 out of 17 constituencies and in 75 out of 88 wards.
"DCP is the party for Nairobi, and the Kariobang North win is the beginning of our politics in Nairobi. We have all planned ourselves very well. We have agreed with the Wiper leader that the governor, senate and women representatives' seats will be taken by DCP," he said.
Gachagua spoke on Sunday, November 30, while attending a Thanksgiving Service at PCEA Kariobangi North.
The United Opposition resolved to back DP candidate Newton Karish in the Mbeere North constituency by-election.
Karish was routed by Leonard Muthende, who was running on a UDA ticket.
Muthende garnered 15,802 votes to be declared the winner. Karish trailed in second place with 15,308 votes.
Celebrating the win, UDA remarked that voters in Mbeere North used the ballot to put out a strong statement against empty political rhetoric and sloganeering.
Meanwhile, the Gachagua-led faction dismissed Muthende’s victory, alleging it stemmed from an uneven contest.
They accused the state of supposedly deploying police and hired goons to interfere with the process, while also pointing to widespread bribery and orchestrated violence that disadvantaged their candidate.
In spite of the claims, President William Ruto congratulated the winners, describing the result as a positive indicator ahead of the 2027 elections.
He argued that the opposition lacked a compelling agenda for the electorate, cautioning that the setback in Mbeere North and elsewhere foreshadows further losses in 2027.
Muthende now steps in to succeed Geoffrey Ruku, who was appointed to the Cabinet earlier this year.
