In yet another foreign trip, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua left for the US on Wednesday night in what he described as an unwinding, strategic and financial mobilisation retreat.
At the airport, Mr Gachagua said he wanted to be alone “in the serenity of a world with no fries where the only admissible intrusion is that from my wife with whom I want quality time with”.
He said he would first rest for 10 days before commencing his activities in America, where he will hold both public and private meetings until October 20, when he will jet back. “I will be having functions in Spokane, Washington, Portland, Oregon, Kansas, Dallas, Texas, Boston, Massachusetts, and some other states that will be communicated on a need basis,” he said.
“I want to be alone so that I can make important decisions that are free from undue influence by my close allies. I want to meet partners and supporters so we can exchange ideas and resources for the important but hard task ahead,” he said.
Mr Gachagua had earlier disclosed that DCP has a nominations budget of Sh4 billion, where half of it was expected to be raised by aspirants, with funds mobilisation expected to bridge the deficit.
But with the party gaining more following, the budget is expected to shoot up, especially given that Mr Gachagua has expanded his mobilisation outside the Mt Kenya region.
“There are five critical constituencies that will require special attention. As a presidential hopeful, I am keenly investing in Nairobi, Kakamega, Kiambu, Meru and Nakuru counties as my potential launching pads. We must be well prepared and must have the necessary ground networks and finances to remain competitive,” he said.
Mr Gachagua leaves behind a struggling United Opposition, which is yet to decide on the formula for picking a joint presidential candidate, let alone on how to speak in one voice. Yet, Mr Gachagua had, during his self-declared conclave — which started on June 16 and closed on August 24 — insisted that DCP existed independently and treated all other political parties as competitors, hence why he was working hard to strengthen it ahead of 2027. His remarks were given credence by the proposed United Alternative Government Spokesman Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, who on Monday told KTN that “I am a spokesperson of a non-existent secretariat for a formation that has no structures and common speaking point”.
Dr Mukhisa Kituyi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“I cannot pretend for long that despite assembling an office for the job, there has not been a cohesive structured formation to speak about since the member parties operate independently and rarely come up with a purposeful communique that can be said to be common ground.”
Mr Gachagua’s tour of the USA is his second since he was impeached, after which, instead of fading out, he commenced his journey for a political comeback through forming DCP, which he has succeeded in positioning as a substantial force in the vote-rich Mt Kenya bloc.
The DCP Secretary-General designate, John Methu, told Nation that Mr Gachagua’s trip to the US is aimed at making the speed of campaigning against President Ruto hit an all-time high.
Nyandarua County Senator John Methu.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“Watch this space. When he jets back, you will notice renewed vigour and organisation. Ignore those characters who thrive on speaking about things they least understand or are arrogantly refusing to accept. There is no way Gachagua can have a pre-election pact with President Ruto. That is a confirmed impossibility,” he said.
Mr Methu added that all presidential hopefuls remain Mr Gachagua’s competitors until a joint presidential candidate turns the tables against him.
“Before he left for the USA, Gachagua was categorical that picking the joint candidate is the easiest of the tasks ahead. He said the elephant in the room is about mobilising for numbers and resources. Mr Gachagua has his eyes fixed on the prize and the wherewithal to achieve the ultimate liberation. Ignore everything else; Gachagua is obsessed with making the common plan work,” 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, DC, 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 his 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.
The tour also raised eyebrows when, on May 22, 2026 — the day Mr Gachagua jetted back to Kenya — a government entourage posted a photo while in the UK stating that it was also flying back home.
The team included, among others, National Assembly Majority Leader Mr Kimani Ichung’wah, Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and nominated MP Sabina Chege.
Political spinners launched an online crusade trying to connect Mr Gachagua’s visit to the Ichung’wah-led government delegation, saying that coincidence in politics is also stage-managed.
While Mr Gachagua has never uttered a word about the coincidence, Mr Mohamed told Nation that “we were there on official parliamentary duties”.
On July 29, 2026, at his Wamunyoro residence while hosting leaders from Northern Kenya, Mr Gachagua said donations from his US tour were brought into Kenya through the Somali community.
He said he used trusted Somali middlemen to channel the funds instead of formal banking channels because he feared the funds would be seized.
He said he was to travel overseas again to consolidate on the gains of acceptance and promises of support by partners and fans.
“I will travel to the United States to speak with our friends and partners. We must raise enough resources for the elections because failure is not an option. Removing a sitting president, especially the crafty type we have here, will not be a walk in the park. It is about mobilisation of numbers and resources, and DCP is taking its part of responsibility seriously,” he said.
Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria had early this month suggested there could be more to the trip, drawing parallels with President Ruto’s planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly next month.
He did not provide evidence of the connection, only noting the coincidence.
