Why Gachagua has cancelled London tour

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressing residents of Katutu in Kitui county on April 22, 2026. [Philip Muasya, Standard]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has cancelled his London tour slated for next month to oversee his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) nominations for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat by-election, scheduled for July 16 this year.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu, Gachagua’s confidant, told Kameme FM in an interview that Gachagua cancelled his tour for him to personally closely monitor the nominations and to ensure that they will be free, fair, credible and accurate nominations.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has scheduled May 25 and 26 as the deadline for submission of nomination papers by both political parties and independent candidates.

“Parties must also resolve any internal disputes arising from primaries and submit their final list of candidates by May 15,” a notice from the IEBC read in part.

The seat fell vacant after the death of area MP David Kiaraho, who passed away on March 29 at Nairobi Hospital while undergoing treatment in a move that created yet another stage for a showdown between Gachagua and President William Ruto and a litmus test on the unity of the United Opposition leaders.

Methu insisted that DCP was the most influential political party in Nyandarua county, saying they would not cede grounds for the Jubilee party, which has been urging the Opposition parties to support their candidate since the seat belonged to the party.

“Gachagua will personally oversee the party nominations on May 7, 2026, which is why he cancelled his London visits to focus on the by-election. Political players in Nyandarua will have no roles in the DCP nominations,” Methu said.

He said the DCP had attracted nine parliamentary aspirants while the UDA had attracted ten aspirants, but claimed only two were serious contenders.

The Senator ruled out withdrawing their candidate in favor of the Jubilee party, saying they had learnt a lesson after the Democratic Party (DP), which is affiliated to former Attorney General Justin Muturi, failed to capture the Mbeere North seat, which was won by the UDA party last year.

“Despite the fact that the DCP did not have a candidate in Mbeere North, the President claims he defeated Gachagua, which is why the Ol Kalou by-election matters, we have our regional party and we shall strengthen it behind Gachagua,” he said.

 While the DCP party has opted for nominations, the UDA party settled on consensus, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki saying the decision was to avoid unnecessary divisions within the party.

He urged the aspirants to consider reaching a consensus where possible in a bid to avoid unnecessary divisions within the party while he assured all contenders that the party would conduct a free, fair, and verifiable nomination process.