Gachagua on ‘spilling secrets’ tag: I won't shut up, I'm an open book

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) boss Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday told off critics who accuse him of speaking too much and revealing political secrets meant to remain behind closed doors, especially before any deal is sealed.

In response, the former deputy president said he has no intention of keeping quiet and will continue expressing himself uncensored, insisting that he is guided by truthfulness, openness and honesty.

“I have heard people say that I should not give out my strategy or my secrets... There is no secret. I’m an open book,” he said in a KTN interview.

He added: “I speak for the people who support me, and they have every right to know what I’m planning for them.”

Mr Gachagua said he will not engage in the deceit of hidden cards and secret deals.

“I’m not the one to go agreeing in secret. I will come out and declare to my supporters so that they know the kind of deal I am entering them into,” he said.

He argued that such secrecy is what ails President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government, “because we never told the people what we had agreed with him.”

Zoning 

In the interview, Mr Gachagua also addressed the zoning controversy sparked by his claim that he had a deal with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Nairobi seats — remarks that drew sharp criticism within the united opposition.

“I mean exactly that… only that it is not exclusively for DCP. It is among ourselves as Wiper and DP — myself and Kalonzo,” he said.

He maintained that his November 30, 2025, speech at PCEA Embakasi Church, which sparked the uproar, had been distorted to imply he said Nairobi seats would be reserved for the Agikuyu community.

“I did not say that. What I said is that I affirm the prominence of Mr Musyoka in Nairobi politics, and he has been helping ODM win those seats,” he said.

Mr Gachagua had told the congregation: “We have an agreement with Kalonzo Musyoka and the Wiper party that DCP will take the governor, senator and woman representative seats, and jointly take 16 of the 17 constituency seats as well as 75 of the 85 ward seats.”

In the interview, he insisted: “It is not a lie, because even Mr Musyoka has clarified that we have agreed to jointly complement each other in bagging the seats.”

He said Mr Musyoka’s influence in Nairobi makes him a strong partner in the quest to win the city.

He added that he has every right to lobby for prime political seats for his party within the united opposition — and if that means partnering with Wiper, then he will pursue it.

“I mean, who do people think I am? Should I not fight for my party? Should I not strategise on how to win more seats in Nairobi? I would be foolish not to do that. And I have reached out to Mr Musyoka, and I will continue doing so,” he said.

Kalonzo on the fence

Mr Musyoka has been noncommittal on the matter, appearing torn between supporting political zoning and opposing it. After initially denying having any pact with Mr Gachagua, he later praised him for being honest, truthful and bold.

“I’m not party to reserving Nairobi for any particular party. Those are seats to be contested, and the people should decide in a fair competition,” Mr Musyoka had said.

He later added on December 7, 2025 that Nairobi is too important to be subjected to zoning.

“This is the headquarters of the United Nations. It is home to international and national communities, and it can only be managed through open democracy where all are accorded equal opportunity in the pursuit of leadership,” he said.

Mr Musyoka said he stands for inclusivity, fairness and people-driven choices.

Mr Gachagua and Mr Musyoka met again in Murang’a County during the burial of Herbert Kareithi, who died in a road accident while working for the United Nations in Ethiopia.

Mr Gachagua insisted that he and Mr Musyoka are forming a “political family” bringing their supporters together.

“Nairobi is complicated. It is a contest, and it must be approached with utmost care,” he said.

In what appeared to be another shift, Mr Musyoka praised Mr Gachagua as “one man who is truthful and speaks truth to power.”

Mr Gachagua on Wednesday said he will not fall into what he described as the government’s trap of pushing him into “shady dealings.”

He claimed President Ruto and his handlers are uneasy about his growing influence and DCP’s rising profile ahead of 2027.

“That is why they are all over saying I’m tribal and that DCP is isolationist. That wedge they are trying to promote is dead on arrival,” he said.

He said he and Mr Musyoka have agreed to avoid friendly fire in Nairobi during the 2027 General Election “so that we do not give President Ruto a sneaking avenue.”

Mr Gachagua repeated his claim that some opposition parties were secretly aiding President Ruto’s UDA, referring to them as “wheelbarrows,” the UDA symbol.

“The Mt Kenya political space has been packed with unity saboteurs through the establishment of President Ruto’s wheelbarrows. You saw a wheelbarrow that President Ruto called to his side, proceeded to the area and managed to split the United Opposition votes,” he said, referring to the Mbeere North by-election where opposition-backed Newton Kariuki lost to UDA’s Leonard Wa Muthende.

He said he was referring to Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), headed by Moses Kuria.

“It is good that it happened because my people can now see what I have been talking about. There will be many of those wheelbarrows as 2027 draws near,” he said.

Mr Gachagua lamented that the Mbeere North contest shows the danger ahead.

“Had CCK not fielded a candidate in Mbeere North, the 15,802 votes that the government candidate Leonard wa Muthende got against Newton Kariuki’s 15,308 would have gone either way had Mr Kuria avoided fielding his candidate,” he said.

But in a quick rebuttal, Mr Kuria dismissed Mr Gachagua’s remarks as contradictory and politically dishonest.

“My brother Gachagua, make up your mind. Is it me who took your votes, or were your votes stolen?” Mr Kuria posed.

He added that CCK will join Newton Kariuki’s election petition as an interested party “so that I can seek answers from Gachagua and have them addressed in court.”

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