Mulembe Times
Gachagua launches the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), breaking away from UDA to challenge President Ruto in 2027. Discover what Gachagua’s new party means for Kenya’s political future.
NAIROBI, Kenya — May 15, 2025
In a dramatic turn of events that is likely to reshape Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Elections, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially launched a new political outfit — the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). The unveiling ceremony took place on Thursday at the party’s newly established headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi.
Flanked by allies and supporters drawn mostly from the Mt. Kenya region, Gachagua declared that the DCP would be a grassroots-driven, people-centered political movement aimed at restoring “the original promise of the hustler nation” and ending what he described as “political betrayal and exclusion” by President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“We gave our all to build the UDA and the Kenya Kwanza government. But what we see now is a betrayal of trust, broken promises, and the silencing of Mt. Kenya voices. The DCP is here to put power back where it belongs — with the people,” Gachagua said in a fiery speech.
The launch follows Gachagua’s resignation from UDA on May 12, citing frustrations with the party’s internal politics and its failure to prioritize the Mt. Kenya region in both development and leadership appointments. Sources close to the former DP suggest that tensions with President Ruto have been simmering for months, particularly over budgetary allocations and the sidelining of his allies.
A Carefully Planned Political Exit
Though the DCP was officially registered on February 3, 2025, its identity had been kept secret to avoid interference from political rivals and state agencies. According to insiders, the timing of the launch was deliberate, meant to coincide with growing discontent in Central Kenya over high taxation, limited development, and rising youth unemployment.
During the unveiling, Gachagua introduced former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala as the interim deputy party leader, signaling a broader national ambition beyond Mt. Kenya. The party also announced plans to establish a National Leadership Council that would incorporate diverse voices from Governors, Senators, Members of Parliament, youth, women, religious leaders, and the diaspora.
“This party is not just for one community or one region,” said Malala. “It’s a national movement that seeks to heal divisions, empower the forgotten, and defend devolution.”
A Threat to UDA?
Political analysts view the formation of DCP as a significant threat to President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027. Gachagua, once a close ally of the President, now becomes one of his most formidable challengers — especially if he succeeds in consolidating the Mt. Kenya vote bloc, which played a crucial role in Ruto’s 2022 victory.
In his speech, Gachagua did not mince words about his intentions.
“We are not here to play second fiddle. We are here to lead. President Ruto has abandoned the hustlers who brought him to power. In 2027, the DCP will offer a real alternative — one term is enough,” he declared.
UDA officials have so far downplayed the launch, with Secretary General Veronica Maina dismissing DCP as “a regional protest outfit with no national future.” However, behind the scenes, sources within UDA say there is growing concern over the erosion of support in Central Kenya, especially after recent public criticism by several Mt. Kenya MPs allied to Gachagua.
What Next?
Gachagua announced a series of rallies across the country, beginning with Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga in the coming weeks. The DCP is also expected to unveil its policy agenda, party constitution, and grassroots mobilization framework before the end of June.
Political commentators say the next few months will be critical in determining whether the DCP can translate its launch momentum into real political capital.
“This is Gachagua’s biggest gamble,” said political analyst Prof. Herman Manyora. “If he can bring together Mt. Kenya and other disenchanted leaders from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, then we could be witnessing the birth of a serious third force.”
As Kenya heads into yet another charged election cycle, the entry of the Democracy for Citizens Party adds new layers of intrigue, realignment, and uncertainty — and all eyes are now on Mt. Kenya.
