The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has explained why its leader, Rigathi Gachagua, is cutting short his trip to the United States.
DCP Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala on Monday, August 19 said that Gachagua decided to shorten his trip to the U.S after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gazetted the date for by-elections in the country.
In a notice on August 9, the electoral commission announced that all by-elections will be held on 27th November 2025, and it is for this reason that Gachagua returns to the country earlier than expected.
“Rigathi Gachagua decided to cut short his trip to the U.S because the IEBC gazetted the by-elections date, and we are less than 90 days to the by-elections,” Malala said in an interview with TV47’s Abubakar Abdullahi. “Gachagua decided to come back and concentrate in coordinating activities of the by-elections.”
Gachagua’s return is not without controversy. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen earlier this month said Gachagua should record a statement with the police over terrorism remarks he made as soon as he returns to the country.
According to Gachagua allies, this was a ploy to have him arrested as soon as he jets into the country, in a bid to muzzle his “growing political influence”.
“We have intelligence that upon the directive of Mr Murkomen, which insinuated that Gachagua will be arrested at the airport, security agencies have realised that many people will come to receive him, and therefore there is plans to divert his flight to either land in Mombasa or Kisumu. But we have adequate plans to receive Gachagua in whatever international airport that he lands in. So long as he lands in Kenya, he will be received,” Malala, who unsuccesfully vied for the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat in 2022, added.
‘We will have a candidate’
During the exclusive interview, Malala was also quick on insisting that the DCP Party will be fielding a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.
“As DCP Party, we will be fielding a presidential candidate in the name of Rigathi Gachagua [in 2027].”
