Some supporters of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua’s in the United States have pushed for a more national outlook as opposed to his focus on Mt Kenya region.
Mr Gachagua , who left the country on August 26, for a tour of USA, has since held 10 days of bonding and networking sessions in Spokane and Pullman in Washington, where some in the audience demanded that he embrace national alliances and be more committed to the search for one presidential candidate to face off with President William Ruto .
Mr Gachagua has entered the third phase of his tour, where, after resting for 10 days, his Spokane and Pullman mission is now in Portland, Oregon, before moving to the fourth phase, which will see him operate in Kansas up to September 24.
He will then commence the fifth phase, which will see him operate in Dallas, Texas, up to October 1, 2026, before wrapping up the tour with phase six, which will see him operate in Boston, Massachusetts.
Three working petitions by House of Mumbi in USA, DCP in USA forum, and Professionals, Businessmen and Clergy for DCP sought to commit Mr Gachagua and DCP to a pre-election pact with his diaspora supporters ahead of the 2027 General Election, as they also seek to get guarantees that he understands what Kenya needs after the election.
The House of Mumbi coordinator, Mr James Gatheru, said the consolidated petitions demand that Mr Gachagua take charge of the one term (Wantam) movement as a national influencer.
“His mobilisation and oratory skills are outstanding among opposition principals. He also brings value in commanding a huge voting bloc. We want to see Mr Gachagua in joint meetings, especially with Wiper Party boss Mr Kalonzo Musyoka and Linda Mwananchi’s Edwin Sifuna. Our analysis of the task of defeating President Ruto demands the three be the apex of the ultimate combination since they are the top-tier principals,” Mr Gatheru said.
He said the time has come for the united opposition to shed unnecessary baggage and get into the serious business of identifying their flag bearer, running mate and other key bargaining posts.
This came as Embakasi East MP Babu Owino warned the united opposition that further delays in naming the joint candidate might turn out to be costly.
“The time to name that candidate is now. Any delays might be beneficial to the incumbent. If we named that candidate now and started to campaign for him or her, the whole country would move away from President Ruto,” Mr Owino said.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua addresses the media at the party’s offices in Nairobi on August 11, 2026.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
The MP’s sentiments align with those of Mr Musyoka, who had demanded that the candidate be named last February, and Democratic Party boss Mr Justin Muturi, who wanted the candidate named last month.
However, Mr Gachagua, in his speeches in the United States, insisted that the candidate should be named as early as March 2027, ahead of the May 2027 deadline.
In the petitions, Mr Gatheru said other demands were that the DCP diaspora community be involved in the search for the joint candidate as well as in sharing out power “since we will foot nearly 60 per cent of the party’s budget.”
According to the DCP in USA community coordinator, Mr John Karuga, the members also demand to be assured that their funds will be utilised transparently for the cause of liberation.
“Other demands are that our party keep off utterances and acts that might threaten the peace, involve us in drafting the manifesto, be involved in presenting an economic plan that will get the country out of debt and at the same time guarantee citizens major reprieves, especially on jobs, enterprise, healthcare, education and low-interest credit,” he said.
Mr Karuga said Mr Gachagua would be tasked to explain how he intends to persuade the opposition government to tackle corruption, wastage and nepotism.
Mr Gachagua told the Daily Nation that so far the engagements have yielded greater partnerships, while key networks have since been established.
“DCP intends to walk the political and economic journey with the diaspora community in their national diversities. We are not here in the USA to meet Mt Kenya people only. We are meeting the face of the world while here,” he said.
Mr Gachagua said he had promised the diaspora community that they would be at the negotiation table and also play a critical role in coming up with a DCP manifesto that will be combined with those of other friendly parties in the coalition to be made.
Mr Gachagua said it is the position of the DCP that most ambassadors be appointed from qualified professionals already residing abroad.
“This makes sense because these professionals are already adapted to their residential countries; hence, the government will not be called upon to teach them foreign languages… these are people already with their homes, and their families will not require to be relocated abroad,” he said.
He added that he has since entered into an agreement with the diaspora community that DCP will insist on commercial diplomacy that will pay diaspora people commissions on goods and services they help sell abroad, as well as tourists they refer to the country.
“We have also agreed that the diaspora people will be incorporated in reforming the health and education sectors as well as refer investors into the country. We want to tap the immense knowledge they have gained in working for a superpower and also gain in technological transfer into the country,” he said.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua addresses journalists after receiving defectors from various political parties at DCP headquarters in Nairobi on August 25, 2026.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Mr Gachagua further said the new government will put in place legal and policy guidelines to help the diaspora community start their own bank in the country to help them retain service fees, interest and commissions from their remittances.
“We have also agreed that we will work on legal exemptions to help the diaspora people ship into the country their old cars as souvenirs and, above all, have representation in the Cabinet,” he said.
His first trip after impeachment was in July-August 2025, when he landed at Kansas City International Airport and held town halls in Seattle, Boston, Baltimore/Washington D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles and Kansas City with Kenyan nurses, drivers, students and church leaders to launch DCP diaspora chapters.
On May 15, 2026, he flew to the United Kingdom after dispatching an advance team of Senator John Methu, Kanini Kega and musician Samuel Muchoki, aka Samidoh, to London to coordinate.
The UK tour was initially planned as a one-month fundraising drive, covering London, Swindon and Peterborough, but upon arrival in Kenya six days later, he said he had been compelled by his supporters to rush back and hold the opposition together.
“I was supposed to go for one month in the United Kingdom for a series of activities, but I have to cut short... We cannot leave the country when the people of Kenya are in trouble,” he said.
