The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala has declared his support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political ambitions.
However, he says his party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, will be the party’s presidential candidate, while Sifuna is best suited for the deputy president’s position.
Speaking in an interview on Spice FM, Malala said he supports Sifuna but believes the most suitable position for him within the united opposition framework is the deputy presidency, a position he says he arrived at knowing fully well that Gachagua would be running for president.
“The most convenient position for Edwin Sifuna is the deputy president. I was saying that knowing that my party leader is running for presidency. That is why I said Edwin Sifuna can be a very good deputy president,” he said.
He was clear that his support for Sifuna does not contradict his loyalty to Gachagua or DCP, arguing that the opposition’s path to power lies in coalition-building rather than individual competition.
“We exist within the precincts of a united opposition. We know very well that in Kenya where we are right now, one person cannot go all the way in an election and be a formidable force,” he said.
When asked whether supporting Sifuna conflicts with his role as DCP deputy leader, Malala said it does not.
He argued that the opposition is a coalition of political parties, not a single party, and suggested it could eventually adopt a coalition party model similar to NARC in 2002.
“There’s a difference between a coalition party and a coalition of parties. Kenya Kwanza is a coalition of parties. NARC in 2002 was a coalition party,” he explained, suggesting the opposition could settle on a single flag bearer through negotiations at the appropriate time.
On the question of who that flag bearer ultimately should be, Malala said the decision would be made at the negotiating table.
“We can only have one leader at a time. We will go to the negotiating table and the person we will settle on as the most preferred presidential candidate as a united opposition front, we will all support him,” he said.
Malala made it clear that when that moment comes, he will be backing Sifuna.
“I’ll be backing my brother, Edwin Sifuna. If he’s given the opportunity to fly our presidential flag, we will be happy. And if he sits down, we will be happy if he’s given the opportunity to be the deputy,” he stated.
Malala also cited community and regional solidarity as part of his reasoning, invoking Gachagua’s own philosophy.
“My party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, is the father of all the syllabus that says charity begins at home. And therefore, I will not be doing any mistake for me to rally behind my brother, Edwin Sifuna,” he concluded.
