The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) is facing an early test of its promise to let voters decide its candidates, with some aspirants accusing party leader Rigathi Gachagua and senior officials of favouring loyalists ahead of the 2027 elections.
The dispute threatens to undermine the party’s efforts to position itself as the political vehicle for the Mt Kenya region, with disgruntled aspirants questioning whether the open nominations model showcased in the Ol Kalou by-election will apply across the party.
The tensions are emerging even as Mr Gachagua puts coalition talks on the back burner, insisting that the opposition must first strengthen its political bases before settling on a joint presidential candidate.
Speaking to supporters in Dracut, Massachusetts, in the US, Mr Gachagua urged them to be patient, saying the opposition was not behind schedule in its preparations for the 2027 elections.
“We are not late. We are within time. Coalitions can only happen after all impactful principals have strengthened themselves and mobilised their loyal bedrocks,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that the opposition was divided or struggling to agree on a joint candidate, promising that DCP would make the necessary sacrifices to unite behind one flag bearer.
“I can assure you that the candidate we will come up with will make you happy. Kenyans want the election won in round one. Coalition will be important but not at this time for DCP. DCP and I will make all necessary sacrifices to ensure we have a joint candidate,” he said.
But while Mr Gachagua assured supporters that the opposition would eventually settle on a joint presidential candidate, disquiet was building within his own party over how it intends to select candidates for elective positions.
Some aspirants accuse Mr Gachagua and the party’s chairman of eminent persons, Mr Maina Kamanda, of undermining the very principles of internal democracy that DCP invoked to celebrate its Ol Kalou nomination exercise.
Former nominated MP Maina Kamanda.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
They claim that the party leader has been endorsing preferred candidates while Mr Kamanda has suggested that some aspirants could be denied nomination certificates even if they win the primaries.
Speaking on Inooro FM on September 22, Mr Kamanda said the party would not award tickets to certain candidates regardless of their performance in the nominations.
“We cannot have those who stuck with the oppressors until the last minute come and overthrow those who have stood firm with the party and its leadership. Even during the previous rules, there are those who were denied tickets owing to loyalty checks,” he said, citing Kirinyaga County as an example.
The remarks have unsettled aspirants who now want the party leadership to give firm assurances that its nominations will be democratic, transparent and reflective of the wishes of members.
The controversy is particularly significant because DCP has held up the Ol Kalou by-election as evidence of its commitment to internal democracy.
During the July nominations, 23,763 members voted, representing 32.6 per cent of the constituency’s 72,997 registered voters. Sammy Kamau Ngotho won the party ticket with 12,947 votes before going on to win the by-election with 35,440 votes against 5,450 for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
Mr Gachagua described the exercise as historic, insisting that DCP had no provision for direct nominations and would be guided by the principle that the people should decide.
But some aspirants now fear that the model will not be replicated across the party, pointing to what they describe as public endorsements of preferred candidates by its leadership.
During his ongoing tour of the United States, Mr Gachagua told an audience in Spokane that Ms Wambui Nyutu would be the next MP for Maragua on a DCP ticket.
Ms Wambui Nyutu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The declaration angered her rival for the party nomination, Mr Jimmy Mbaki, who interpreted it as evidence that the outcome of the contest had already been decided.
Mr Mbaki said the endorsement had reinforced his conviction that DCP nominations would not be free and fair.
“What other evidence do I need that I am wasting my time in DCP? I would be more foolish than a cow to stick in DCP,” he said.
He went on to compare remaining in the party to a cow walking willingly into a slaughterhouse, arguing that aspirants who continued to trust the nomination process despite what he described as clear signs of favouritism risked being short-changed.
“A cow walks willingly and peacefully to be slaughtered even when it has crazy energies than the slaughter man. A cow never imagines that if it decided to use its energies, it can kill all people in that slaughterhouse. I will not be that cow,” he said.
Mr Mbaki further alleged that parliamentary seats in Maragua, Kigumo and Gatanga had effectively been reserved for Mr Gachagua’s preferred candidates.
“DCP nominations will be a formality. Those who think there will be fairness are making a fool of themselves. I have since shopped for another party. DCP should be avoided by those who have no relationship with Mr Gachagua,” he said.
The party leadership, however, has rejected claims of favouritism, insisting that all aspirants will have an opportunity to compete.
Speaking to the Nation on October 13, DCP Secretary-General designate John Methu described the concerns as misplaced, saying aspirants should not mistake political talk for official party decisions.
“People should avoid taking political chitchat very seriously. We have our official meetings with aspirants where what we tell all of them gathered is what will apply,” he said.
Mr Methu maintained that even Mr Gachagua could face opposition in the race for the party’s presidential ticket, arguing that no individual was guaranteed a nomination.
“Mr Gachagua, me, any other... this party has no favourites. The person who will win the nominations is the one who will get the ticket. That is the promise I can give before man and before God,” he said.
He, however, warned that the party would not tolerate attempts to manipulate the process, saying victories obtained through fraud, bribery or violence would not be recognised.
“Much the more we commit ourselves to honour the will of the people, that will must not be corrupted. No ticket will go to a fraudulently acquired win. No ticket shall be won through violence or bribery. Our party mechanisms will be very keen about undue influence, especially those sponsored by the status quo,” he said.
The assurances came as DCP’s Murang’a leadership moved to calm tensions following Mr Mbaki’s protest over Mr Gachagua’s endorsement of Ms Nyutu.
On October 12, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu led a meeting of aspirants at the party’s county headquarters to discuss membership registration and preparations for the nominations.
Mr Nyutu assured the candidates that the party was committed to conducting credible primaries across all contests.
“I wish to give my assurance that the party is committed to conducting free, fair and credible nominations that uphold transparency, democracy and the will of our members. Every aspirant deserves a fair opportunity, and every member deserves a voice,” he said.
But Mr Mbaki questioned the senator’s suitability to give such assurances, noting that Mr Nyutu would also be defending his own seat in the coming elections.
Mr Methu, who has also indicated that he will defend his Nyandarua Senate seat, denied that loyalty to Mr Gachagua would guarantee anyone a direct ticket. He said aspirants who had sought nominations on the basis of their loyalty had been told to face the primaries.
The dispute places DCP’s nomination process at the centre of a wider question about the party’s identity and political strategy. Under the slogan “Skiza Wakenya” (Listen to Kenyans), the party is seeking to consolidate support in Mt Kenya, a region where the selection of candidates could be as consequential as the eventual coalition arrangements.
The Ol Kalou exercise raised expectations that members would have the final say through an open voting process. The current controversy, however, has exposed a potential conflict between that promise and the party’s emphasis on loyalty to its leadership.
Political analyst Mixson Gitau said aspirants needed to recognise that political parties were not always governed by nominations alone, arguing that their leaderships also had interests and strategic considerations.
“Belonging to a political party that you have not founded is not a right. It is a privilege granted. Party primaries alone do not always mean results will win you the ticket,” he said.
Mr Gitau said party decision-making organs, including the National Executive Council, the Advisory Council and vetting committees, could consider factors beyond the number of votes an aspirant received.
“There must be other considerations well thought-out by decision-making organs — the NEC, the Advisory Council and the vetting committee — including loyalty, electability and integrity,” he said.
He pointed to DCP’s seven-member vetting committee, which he said had issued warnings about the consequences of campaigning against the party in Ol Kalou, supporting government-aligned politicians perceived to have demeaned the Mt Kenya community, or using public resources to undermine party loyalists.
Mr Gitau argued that the party had made its expectations clear and that aspirants should understand the factors that could influence its eventual choice of candidates.
