Why Gachagua's DCP Magarini aspirant Chengo has resigned

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has suffered yet another blow after a third candidate resigned from the Rigathi Gachagua-led outfit ahead of the November 27 by-election.

DCP candidate for Magarini Furaha Chengo Ngumbao has left the party, citing frustrations from the party.

“Please accept this letter as a form of notice of my resignation from the DCP, as a National Executive Committee (NEC) member, immediately. This decision has not been taken lightly, but I can no longer continue in a role where my efforts are undermined by systematic inefficiencies and lack of support,” Ngumbao claimed in the letter.

"The persistent lack of communication, disregard for grassroots concerns, and failure to provide clear directives have created an environment where aspirants like myself are left to navigate," Ngumbao claimed in a letter addressed to DCP Secretary General Hezron Obaga.

Ngumbao, who received the party’s nomination certificate on September 18 from Obaga, did not announce his next move, but his resignation as both a party official and member means he can’t vie by law on a DCP ticket.

''I hope that future leadership will prioritise transparency, inclusivity, and accountability. Our party’s success depends on the active engagement and trust of its members, and I fear that without meaningful reforms, we risk alienating the very people we aim to serve,'' he added.

“It is in this realisation that I, Furaha Chengo Ngumbao, a patriotic Kenyan, tender my resignation as a member of the Democracy for Citizens Party DCP with immediate effect,” Ngumbao concluded.

The by-election in Magarani was occasioned by a high court ruling that nullified the election of ODM’s Harrison Kombe.

This is another blow for Gachagua and DCP as Ngumbao’s move adds to the misery of the new party’s bid to announce its arrival following a similar incident in Mandera’s Banisa and Mbeere North in Embu.

Just last week, Adan Mohamed alias Kiongozi, who had been nominated by DCP for the Banisa seat, withdrew in favour of UDA’s Ahmed Maalim Hassan after meeting President William Ruto in State House.

DCP protested the move, claiming the ruling UDA was enticing its candidate with money.

However, Mohamed defended his decision to quit, linking it to the popularity of the two-term gospel in Northern Kenya while denying any monetary inducement.

Banisa seat fellow vacant following the death of Maalim Kullow in a road accident along Mombasa Road in Nairobi in September 2023.

Earlier this month, DCP officially withdrew from the Mbeere North by-election contests and instead threw its weight behind the Democratic Party (DP) candidate.

This came days after the DCP Mbeere North candidate ditched the party and defected to Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party.

Mbeere North parliamentary seat fell vacant following the resignation of Geoffrey Ruku who replaced Muturi as Public Service Cabinet Secretary.

Ruku has termed DCP’s failure to field a candidate as a testimony of the diminishing fortunes of Gichagua’s party in the region.