Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua addressing journalists at his home in Karen, Nairobi on July 9, 2025.
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has suffered a blow in the Mbeere North Constituency campaigns after its candidate Duncan Mbui bolted out in a huff.
“I have been watching with a keen eye the goings-on at the DCP party and have come to the conclusion that it is a members’ club within the so-called United Opposition,” he wrote on his social media platforms.
He added: “The club has been influenced to decide that DCP should not field a candidate in Mbeere North, a decision I view as a deliberate attempt to kill my ambition and that of the KivuiKivui fraternity (his campaign slogan meaning a mallet).”
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua leaves JKIA after this arrival on August 21, 2025.
He concluded: “Arising from this, we have decided to go independent... We have always been independent and shall win as independent.”
Political commentator and Gachagua loyalist Mr Wahome Thuku said Mr Mbui’s departure reflected the United Opposition’s harmony and commitment to fielding one candidate to face off with President William Ruto’s candidate.
He said: “The move has thrown the government and its allies into panic mode.”
Speaking in Mathioya Constituency, Murang’a County, on Thursday, Mr Gachagua—who has remained tight-lipped over the Mbui fiasco—had said DCP would field candidates in all the looming 27 by-elections scheduled for November 27.
The DCP had unveiled Mr Mbui, currently Evurore Ward MCA in the Embu County Assembly, and dispatched a high-powered team led by Manyatta MP Mr Gitonga Mukunji, Nyandarua Senator Mr John Methu, Kiambu Senator Mr Karungo Thang’wa, and Kajiado North MP Mr Onesmus Ngogoyo to introduce his candidature.
But after weeks of tussling between Democratic Party leader Mr Justin Muturi and Mr Gachagua over the Mbeere North by-election, it appears the former Deputy President, who was impeached in October last year, has swallowed humble pie.
The bone of contention was that the seat had been left vacant after President Ruto picked its MP, Mr Geoffrey Ruku, to the Cabinet in charge of Public Service. Coincidentally, Mr Ruku had won the seat on Mr Muturi’s DP ticket and went on to replace his party boss as Public Service CS—a position from which President Ruto had sacked Mr Muturi.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (in red suit) with other officials during the unveiling ceremony of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) in Lavington, Nairobi on May 15, 2025.
The battle for the seat in 2022 was intense, as Mr Ruku had won it by 647 votes, garnering 17,069 against Mr Muriuki Njagagua’s 16,422 on a UDA ticket. Mr Patricio Njiru of the Jubilee Party managed 2,390 votes, while Njuki Ngari of the Devolution and Empowerment Party (DEP) got 1,873.
Mr Muturi has remained consistent that his party is keen on reclaiming the seat in the by-election and has adamantly refused to give DCP a free run.
On the other hand, Mr Gachagua—keen to shed off the tribalism tag pinned on him by opponents—has insisted on test-running DCP as a national party rooted in Mt Kenya.
It is along these lines that Mbui had been picked to contest in the Mbeere North by-election on a DCP ticket, with Mr Muturi hitting back by fielding flamboyant Muminji MCA and popular musician Mr Newton Kariuki, known by his stage name Karish Mwana M-Embu.
Mr Muturi said: “This country is a multiparty democracy, and we cannot agree to be whipped into a monolithic party state that we shed off some 33 years ago.”
The new development is feared to be a political undressing of Mr Gachagua, whose grip on the Mountain is key to his 2027 fortunes as kingmaker at the national negotiating table on behalf of the populous voting bloc. As it stands, besides facing DP, Mr Gachagua must contend with other United Opposition allies, including Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party and Peter Munya’s Party of National Unity.
Other outfits eyeing a stake in Mountain politics include UDA, the Jubilee Party, Usawa kwa Wote, Tujibebe Wakenya and the National Democrats. There is also the newly unveiled Umoja na Maendeleo Party by former Meru Governor Ms Kawira Mwangaza.
According to Embu County political analyst Mr Malila Munywoki, DCP’s withdrawal from the race was likely informed by fears of splitting opposition votes.
“Should both Mbui and Kariuki insist on staying in the race, UDA’s candidate would have a clear advantage. The mathematics is simple: two strong opposition candidates on the ballot means UDA coasts home easily. But if the opposition unites, then it becomes a real battle, with the opposition favoured to win,” he said.
So far, the race has narrowed to four aspirants: Mr Leonard Muthende of UDA, Mr Mbui, Mr Kariuki, philanthropist Jacob Ireri Mbao of the Jubilee Party, and Embu County Assembly Speaker Josiah Thiriku, who has not declared his party.
