Gachagua on Thursday evening dispatched a team of close allies—Nyandarua Senator John Methu, East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega and mugithi musician Samuel Muchoki, alias Samidoh—to the UK to prepare the ground for his visit.
The trio is expected to coordinate meetings and mobilise diaspora networks in London ahead of Gachagua’s arrival, tentatively scheduled for Monday.
“Our party, DCP, remains firmly committed to engaging the diaspora community as key stakeholders. Their views will inform our blueprint ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election,” Gachagua said.
Speaking by phone from London, Kanini Kega told the Star that the UK visit builds on Gachagua’s recent tour of the United States, where he held a series of town hall meetings with Kenyans living abroad.
“H.E. will be engaging Kenyans in the UK and will expand this visit to other European countries—Germany, France—and all major capitals where Kenyans are. He wants to understand the challenges they face and how to address them when we form government,” Kega said.
He added that the former deputy president is also keen to draw governance lessons from diaspora communities, many of whom have experience living and working under different political and economic systems.
“This is part of our philosophy—kuskiza ground (listening to the people). We want to build a people’s government informed by the lived experiences of Kenyans everywhere,” Kega said. He is seeking re-election on a DCP ticket after decamping from the Jubilee Party.
While diaspora tours by Kenyan politicians are often associated with fundraising, Kega downplayed the role of resource mobilisation in the trip.
“There are Kenyans in the diaspora who want to support us, invest pro-people movement yes, but that is secondary. The main agenda is engagement,” he said.
Kega noted that Gachagua had initially planned to travel with the advance team but remained in Kenya due to political commitments, including his impeachment proceedings and overseeing DCP nominations for upcoming by-elections.
Among the scheduled activities in London are a cultural event on Saturday featuring Kenyan artists and a reception to welcome Gachagua upon his arrival.
Gachagua’s UK tour comes amid a broader trend of opposition leaders stepping up international outreach to consolidate diaspora support. While the diaspora voting base is still very limited in numbers, about 10,000, their resource base and influence is an attraction to politicians.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in February held engagements with Kenyan communities in the United States and parts of Europe, as the United Opposition ramps up international engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Similarly, former Interior Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i has undertaken quiet diplomatic and diaspora engagements abroad, leveraging his international networks and technocratic profile to build credibility ahead of a possible presidential bid.
Gachagua had himself conducted a high-profile, six-week tour of the United States, ending on August 21, 2025.
The tour was characterized by aggressive political mobilization aimed at building support for his 2027 presidential bid and rallying opposition against President William Ruto.
The flurry of foreign trips reflects a strategy that blends grassroots mobilisation at home with targeted international outreach, as opposition leaders seek to broaden their appeal and refine policy platforms.
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