DCP boss Rigathi Gachagua has made an about-turn on his declaration that his party would dominate Nairobi politics over its partners in the United Opposition coalition in the 2027 general election.
The former Deputy President backtracked on his bold assertions that DCP would field candidates in most elective seats in Nairobi, now blaming the media for misreporting.
During a church service at PCEA Kariobangi North on November 30, Gachagua told congregants that he had struck a deal with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on how elective seats in the capital would be shared.
“DCP is the party for Nairobi and this is the foundation of our politics here in the city. We have agreed with the Wiper leader, who has been assisting ODM in Nairobi,” Gachagua said.
He declared that DCP would take the Nairobi governor, senator and woman representative positions.
He further claimed that out of the 17 MP seats in the county, DCP had agreed with Kalonzo that it would take 16.
“Out of 85 ward seats, between DCP and Wiper, we will take 75,” he stated.
The remarks, heavily weighted in DCP’s favour, were widely reported by the media and triggered sharp reactions from within the opposition.
A visibly irritated Kalonzo swiftly distanced himself from the claims, dismissing Gachagua’s statements as deliberate ‘government propaganda’ aimed at sowing division in the united opposition.
“Stop this propaganda that Wiper has left all the seats in Nairobi for DCP. They have to try everything to create tensions between us,” Kalonzo said during a thanksgiving ceremony in Machakos county on Tuesday.
He reaffirmed that the opposition alliance remained intact and committed to its mission of unseating President William Ruto in 2027.
“We are calling our colleagues to sit together. There’s nothing seriously wrong and we will take a collective stand,” he added.
The media storm and Kalonzo’s rebuttal appeared to have forced Gachagua into retreat.
During a meeting at the DCP headquarters in Westlands to congratulate the party’s winners in recent by-elections on Wednesday, Gachagua sought to walk back his earlier pronouncements.
“I want to ask the media to be responsible and to stop open bias. On Sunday, I said that DCP is in talks with Wiper and other parties in the united opposition,” he said.
He insisted that the media misreported him by suggesting that the seats would be exclusive to his party.
Gachagua clarified that his comments were based on an assessment of Nairobi’s political landscape.
“We have looked at the formula in Nairobi—regional composition, party loyalties and past performances—and we have concluded that the united opposition can take 16 out of the 17 seats.”
He added that historical voting patterns supported the claim that the coalition could capture 75 out of 85 ward seats.
He particularly faulted the Star and Taifa Leo for what he termed biased reporting.
“I said DCP is a national party. And I said, whoever is given the DCP ticket—I don’t want to know your name or where you come from—you can come from any community in Kenya. Once you have the DCP ticket, all of us will back you up,” he said.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Even as the Wiper leader distances himself from the alleged pact, Gachagua has doubled down, claiming the agreement would have handed DCP control of Nairobi’s top political seats in 2027—an outcome that could dramatically shift the city’s political landscape. Gachagua’s hasty retreat is seen as an attempt to quell the growing disquiet in the United Opposition.
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