By REBECCA WANGARI
The Democratic for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has called for a friendly contest among candidates seeking to vie for various positions on the party’s ticket in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua warned aspirants against mudslinging and personal attacks, saying only one candidate would eventually emerge victorious in each party nomination contest.
Speaking in Murang’a during the opening of the party’s regional office, the former Deputy President promised that DCP would conduct free and fair nominations, which are scheduled for March 2027.
He said the party had attracted a large number of aspirants seeking to contest various elective positions on its ticket, adding that nominations would be the only way of determining those who would represent the party in the General Election.
“I don’t want any fights among the aspirants. You should all practise friendly campaigns, and those who will not win in the nominations should support the winners even in the General Election,” said Gachagua.
He expressed confidence that DCP would win all elective seats in the Mt Kenya region, saying the party had established a strong support base and had already been accepted by residents.
“I know the party will deliver all the seats, starting from ward representatives, members of parliament, senators and governors,” he said.
Gachagua also challenged his political opponents in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to field candidates against DCP, claiming they stood little chance of winning seats in the region.
He said his main political objective was to prevent President William Ruto from securing a second term, accusing his administration of poor governance and promoting goonism.
Gachagua further claimed that President Ruto was becoming increasingly apprehensive about the 2027 election because he was sensing defeat.
He accused the President of allegedly creating conditions that could lead to chaos and make the country ungovernable, claiming this could provide an excuse for postponing the election.
“We want to tell him that we shall have the election whether he likes it or not, and this time we are sending him home,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua’s allies who accompanied him to the event also accused President Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region by allegedly supporting individuals seeking to establish alternative political parties.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and his Nyandarua counterpart John Methu claimed the alleged strategy was aimed at fragmenting the region’s votes and preventing residents from rallying behind one political formation.
Methu alleged that President Ruto had approached one of the leaders in the region and offered financial support to establish a political party, but the leader declined, resulting in a fallout.
“I know Ruto had called one of the leaders here, promising to give him money so that he could create his own party, but the latter declined, leading to their fallout,” said Methu.
He maintained that the alleged strategy would not succeed, saying voters in the region were now politically aware and would not be easily swayed.
“We know this is the plan, but this time round our people are wiser and won’t be swayed into a different direction because they are already grounded,” he said.
