DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday hosted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Movement at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri county just hours after landing from his eight-week US tour.
The meeting sent fresh signals of growing prospects of a political cooperation between DCP and Linda Mwananchi, just days after Wiper boss Kalonzo Musyoka announced the rebranding of Azimio to Ukombozi Alliance.
The delegation included Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, ODM nominated Senator Crystal Asige, Linda Mwananchi spokesperson Pauline Njoroge, former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and several other MPs and politicians.
“Welcome to Wamunyoro residence my cousins from Linda Mwananchi. When we come together great things must happen,” Gachagua posted on his socials during the meeting.
Gachagua told the delegation they were united by a common political agenda and dismissed suggestions their cooperation was driven by tribal considerations.
“I just wanted us to be together and reiterate that we are one team. We are simple and not complicated as some people would want to paint us. We are not tribal,” he said.
He cited the 2022 presidential election, when he supported Ruto despite the President not coming from his community.
The Gachagua-Sifuna meeting follows remarks by DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala that the party would not immediately join the Ukombozi Alliance.
Instead, Malala indicated DCP would first pursue cooperation with the Linda Mwananchi Movement before considering negotiations for a broad-based opposition alliance further ahead.
The approach proposed by Malala pointed to a two-stage strategy in which the two separate formations will consolidate their support bases before negotiating a common arrangement for the presidential election.
Such a strategy could give DCP and the Linda Mwananchi faction greater bargaining power in negotiations over the presidential ticket, running-mate position and distribution of elective seats.
During his US visit, Gachagua signalled flexibility over his presidential ambitions, saying he could serve as Sifuna's running mate, if political calculations showed the line-up offered the opposition its best chance of defeating Ruto.
“Even I, Riggy G, I can deputise Sifuna. Kwani iko makosa gani?” he said during an engagement with Kenyans in Spokane, Washington.
He argued the opposition should be guided by electoral strength rather than age or individual ambition, suggesting that leaders could take different positions depending on who commanded the strongest support.
