Blow to Gachagua as aspirants ditch party ahead of polls

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua/FILE

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has suffered a major blow after a record three key aspirants quit his DCP party ahead of the by-elections.

The exodus exposes deep internal challenges in the party that the former second in command is relying on to send a political statement ahead of the 2027 polls.

Gachagua had last month cut short his stay in the US to concentrate on the by-elections.

The defections, observers say, deal a major blow to Gachagua’s quest to stamp authority as not only Mt Kenya’s kingpin but also a potential threat to President William Ruto’s re-election.

In the last month, the months-old party has lost candidates in Banissa, Mbeere North and Magharini constituencies.

The aspirants, who were initially seen as his pillars, have crossed over to rival formations, leaving the DP’s camp rattled.

For the aspirants, however, the decision to bolt out is framed as a matter of survival.

Magarini candidate, Furaha Ngumbao, the latest to announce his decision, hinted at frustrations and lack of clear direction within the party.

In a letter on Monday, Ngumbao, a member of the National Executive Committee, stated that his experience with the party's National Elections Board and Secretary General Hezron Obanga has been disappointing.

“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,” he said.

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

The letter dated September 29 was also copied to the Registrar of Political Parties.

Ngumbao's move comes weeks after Duncan Mbui who was to carry the party’s flag in Mbeere North bolted out in a huff following DCP’s decision to rally behind the DP candidate.

According to Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia, the Mbeere North MP was canvassed amongst the broader opposition and an agreement was reached to back the DP candidate.

“In Mbeere North we were to support the candidate of DP because Muturi argued that DP held the seat,” Kaguchia told the Star.

The Gachua-led party suffered similar fate of defection in Banissa constituency after its candidate, Adan Mohamed alias Kiongozi, withdrew from the race.

According to Mohamed the decision was informed by Madera Council of Elders who prevailed upon him to withdraw from the race.

With by-elections set to test the ground, the defections not only rob Gachagua an opportunity to raise DCP’s political profile but also threaten to embolden opponents keen on painting him as a leader losing grip.

Gachagua’s former ally turned fierce critic Ngunjiri Wambugu said the ex-DP should be worried at the rate at which aspirants are exiting DCP.

“The thing that should worry the new party is the rate at which aspirants are fleeing them from them, it might even get it shut down before it is launched,” the former Nyeri Town MP said.

Opposition leaders are, however, pointing a finger at state-sponsored infiltration to destabilise the vocal politician who was once an insider in the current government.

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi said the the system is determined to weaken Gachagua by engineering confusion in his party.

“They could be state-sponsored; that is the only likely thing. This is politics,” Mwangangi told the Star.

Makueni MP Dan Maanzo also agreed that state is out to weaken the opposition by going for some candidates.

While he acknowledged the infiltration was done in Banissa, the other two – Mbeere North and Magarini – were given to parties that had real chances of winning.

“What happened in Banisa the DCP candidate was bought. In the other constituencies, we are supporting the strong candidate within the united opposition,” Maanzo said on the phone.

“In Magarini Constituency, the Wiper candidate is strong, so DCP has withdrawn in our favour.”

INSTANT ANALYSIS

With a wave of defections from DCP, all eyes are on how the ex-DP navigates this baptism by fire. Observers are already warning the pattern is likely to affect the party’s chances in the 2027 showdown.