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Gachagua: DCP not ready for coalition talks, focus is on grassroots
DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua addressing journalists in Nairobi on July 10, 2026.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ruled out immediate coalition talks, saying his reigning priority for now is to strengthen his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) grassroots base ahead of 2027.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of reported efforts by former President Uhuru Kenyatta to loop DCP into the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance.
Mr Kenyatta had built Azimio to push for the election of Raila Odinga in the 2022 general election, which was unsuccessful.
Speaking to a delegation from Murang’a County on Wednesday at his Wamunyoro village home, Mr Gachagua said the party is focused on consolidation, not negotiations.
He announced that Wamunyoro has since become a political command centre where democratic covenants are sealed between Mt Kenya and other regions.
“No political party can negotiate from a position of weakness. Sisi hii mambo ya coalition bado hatujaifikiria. Kitu muhimu kwetu ni kujenga chama kwanza. Ukienda kwa meza ya mazungumzo bila support base imara, utajadili nini?”
Mr Gachagua maintained that DCP will only consider alliances after it has fully consolidated its support bases.
He advised other political parties in the opposition to strengthen themselves first, mobilise their support bases and aspire to get believable, bankable and impactful numbers.
"Removing a sitting president is not a walk in the park. It is not an easy task. Removing him will be a game of numbers," he said.
To that end, Mr Gachagua told his fellow principals in the opposition to realise that without numbers, it will be zero work in shouting Wantam, adding that there is no shortcut to mobilising numbers.
"Numbers are on the ground and they are the voters. Go out there and mobilise them into a formation...Persuade them and make them your loyal base. Seek their permission to negotiate on their behalf. Ask them where they want you to lead them," he said.
He accused some political leaders and parties of resorting to 'crybaby tactics' instead of rolling up their sleeves to pursue political impact.
On Tuesday, DCP Secretary General designate Mr John Methu said all political parties in Mt Kenya region should know Mr Gachagua views them as competitors.
"None should expect DCP and Gachagua to market them the same way we do not expect any to market us," he said.
Mr Methu said Mr Gachagua has more than once said publicly that the only concurrence that all political parties under the United Opposition should share is the search for a joint presidential candidate.
He said it was unfair for some to accuse DCP of not being friendly to other parties when it had even sacrificed its popular candidate in the Mbeere North by-election.
"We even took over Mr Muturi and his DP campaigns. We should be appreciated for that," Mr Methu said.
Nyandarua County Senator John Methu speaks during the official unveiling of DCP party’s elected members to the County Assembly at the DCP headquarters in Nairobi on December 3, 2025.
He added that when Ol Kalou by-election came, the Jubilee Party got 198 votes and Mr Munya's PNU got 28 votes.
"We can only sympathise but there is very little we can do about it as DCP. Our hard work gave us an 85 percent win. We in DCP are holding on average eight forums daily to market our party and organising aspirants," he said.
He added: "Every party and their leadership should mobilise for support and take their numbers to coalitions of their choice. It is not necessarily DCP. They should feel free to be independent".
Mr Methu said DCP is not willing to be anyone's worker in the united Opposition.
"If you believe you have the Mountain, take it where you want and leave DCP out of your frustrations," Methu said.
Mt Methu said DCP remains angled and focused on greater and broader issues aimed at liberating the country.
Their remarks come amid disagreements within the United Opposition over when to unveil a presidential candidate.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had proposed picking a flag bearer in the first quarter of 2026. Gachagua rejected the idea, arguing an early pick would expose the candidate to state intimidation.
Instead, the DCP leader wants the coalition to name its candidate about three months to the election, mirroring the 2002 NARC model. The position has backing from DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa.
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi disagrees, insisting that the coalition should settle on a candidate as early as now, and dismissed the NARC comparison, saying unlike 2002, the opposition does not have an obvious flag bearer like the late Mwai Kibaki.
There is also no agreement on selection criteria.
Jubilee’s Fred Matiang’i has proposed a scientific opinion poll to determine the flag bearer, with the runners-up and the third finishers taking DP and Prime CS slots.
The plan has appeared to have support from Martha Karua and Wamalwa.
Mr Musyoka, however, has appeared to favour consensus and boardroom negotiations instead, a move that has aroused tensions in Mr Kenyatta's alleged attempts to revive Azimio where Mr Musyoka would emerge the clear ticket holder as it's installed leader.
Gachagua, Wamalwa and Musyoka appeared together in Embu last week, but remain split on both timing and method of picking the flag bearer.
The former DP has been crisscrossing the country to popularize DCP. He was in Laikipia on Saturday, August 1, where he told supporters the party will grow before any talks.
He said he is headed to Kiambu and Kajiado counties starting this Friday.
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