Gachagua summons crisis meeting over botched DCP launch

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has summoned a high-level meeting to chart the way forward for the launch of his newly-founded DCP party.

The meeting follows the abrupt cancellation of Gachagua’s booking at Kasarani.

The launch, which was scheduled for next Tuesday, has been postponed after Sports Kenya revoked DCP’s reservation of the Kasarani Indoor Arena.

Party sources told the Star that Gachagua has called the meeting, to be attended by top DCP officials early next week to settle on a new venue and iron out logistics for the rescheduled event.

Among the alternatives under consideration are private venues and county-owned stadiums in the Mt Kenya region, with Kirigiti and Thika stadiums reportedly on the shortlist.

The former DP’s allies have blamed their woes squarely on President William Ruto’s administration.

The cancellation has sparked a political uproar, with Gachagua’s allies accusing the government of deliberate sabotage.

“We are in the process of identifying a suitable venue in a private facility, as it is clear the government will not allow DCP to use its facilities,” DCP secretary general Hezron Obaga said.

The event was expected to be Gachagua’s political re-entry, with the party projecting it as a “mega” launch drawing at least 5,000 attendees, including supporters, party officials, elders, youth representatives, and members of the press.

The programme featured carefully curated performances and symbolic presentations meant to portray Gachagua not only as a Mt Kenya political heavyweight but also as a viable contender for the 2027 presidency.

A letter to Sports Kenya from DCP outlined the scope of the event and its expected impact, underscoring the significance of the cancelled booking.

A senator aligned with Gachagua accused the state of engineering the cancellation to disrupt the party’s momentum.

“The government will never give us police protection. And even if they do, it will be to shield the goons they send to disrupt us. Ruto is keen to crack down on the party,” the senator said.

Gatanga MP Edward Muriu confirmed that Gachagua has called for a meeting of the party officials to agree on the alternative venue.

As political temperatures rise, Gachagua’s allies have framed the Kasarani setback as part of a wider crackdown by the Kenya Kwanza regime on dissenting voices within its former ranks.

Muriu did not mince words, accusing President Ruto of resorting to dictatorial tactics.

“We didn’t expect to get approval to use Kasarani. That’s Ruto for you—predictable. But in politics, negative attention can still work in your favour,” he said.

“He may be trying to suppress us, but it’s earning us public sympathy— and sympathy is a powerful currency in politics.”

Muriu claimed the government’s actions have unintentionally revealed a pattern of intolerance.

“These actions show just how undemocratic this administration is. I was one of the UDA founders, and not once did President Uhuru Kenyatta block our meetings,” he said.

“In fact, we used public spaces—including the official residence of the Deputy President. Uhuru could have kicked Ruto out, but he never did.”