The Gachagua- Methu vs Malala Nyoro tug of war

Rigathi Gachagua during the unveiling of his new party, Democracy for Citizens Party.[Collins Oduor, Standard]

Deep cracks are developing in Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizen’s Party (DCP) because of some unilateral decisions he is allegedly making without Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala’s input.

 The politics of exclusion the former deputy president is employing in the Mt Kenya region by favouring his allies instead of allowing free competition by aspirants is also creating schisms in DCP.

Sources within the party told The Standard that the removal of party founding Secretary General Hezron Obaga was allegedly planned and executed by Gachagua and a few allies from the Mt Kenya region during his tour of The United Kingdom recently.

That decision agitated leaders from outside the Mt Kenya region, who are reportedly feeling unsafe and are now not sure about their future in DCP.

Obaga’s removal was decided because two senior positions, deputy party leaders and secretary general were occupied by leaders from western Kenya, which was making Gachagua and his Mt Kenya allies uncomfortable.

The on-going impeachment court case against Gachagua will determine whether he continues holding the position of party leader. The court ruling will also decide his eligibility to run for president in 2027.

The Mt Kenya clique allied to Gachagua fear the party will be controlled by Malala, who will automatically become Party Leader should the High Court not quash Gachagua’s impeachment, hence some of the changes being made.

“The decision to replace Obaga with Nyandarua Senator John Methu was a unilateral decision that was taken by Gachagua without Malala’s knowledge to check mate him because of his growing influence in the party,” said the source.

Such decisions have however created jitters among party members from other regions, who fear Gachagua is determined to make DCP a Mt Kenya affair.

But all is not also well in the Mt Kenya region also, where Gachagua is allegedly sidelining some leaders who want to fairly compete for electoral position, because he has already drawn his own line-up.

Party insiders again told The Standard that whereas Malala wants many progressive leaders in the Mt Kenya region like Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro to join the party, Gachagua is vehemently opposed to that.

“Malala is in deep talks with Nyoro. He wants him to join DCP because his intention is to build a stronger party but Gachagua appears to be very uncomfortable with their night meetings,” said another MP, who also sought anonymity.

He also pointed that the MPs are not happy with Methu’s nomination and none has so far congratulated him because Gachagua did not consult them before the changes were made.

Keen observers also noticed that Malala was absent at the NEC meeting, with reports indicating that he could have deliberately skipped the controversial parley because his presence could have been seen as an endorsement of Methu’s appointment.

This week, both Gachagua and Malala campaigned for the DCP candidate in Ol Kalou, but what happened later in the night was strictly a Mt Kenya affairs.

It is said Gachagua summoned 23 MPs to join him at his Wamunyoro home deep in the night, where discussions focused on the attacks against the Agikuyu community by UDA Secretary General Omar Hassan and also on how to tame Malala, who is said to be enjoying too much media attention.

Questions have also been raised over the NEC decision to nominate Methu as the Secretary General designate, when he is still a member of the ruling UDA party.

There is a power struggle in the party because although Methu cannot sign anything including nomination certificates, he is supposed to be the party spokesman.

But as things stand, all party transactions are still being handled by Obaga, despite the fact that he is now supposed to be the Party Executive officer.

Gachagua’s efforts to install another deputy leader have also allegedly been declined by Malala, who is said to have negotiated for the position, with a commitment that he remains the sole occupant of the position.

“There has been talk of appointing another deputy party leader from Coast, but Malala has been adamant that as founder member of the party he is in charge in the absence of Gachagua and he will quit if that happens,” said the MP.

Gachagua was appointed Party Leader when the impeachment case was filed in court. Obaga forwarded his name to the Registrar of Political Parties, where he was gazatted as Party Leader because he is innocent until proven guilty.

Concerns have also been raised about the risk of the party being turned into a Kikuyu outfit following the demotion of Obaga but there is also the issue of Gachagua not entertaining independent minded politicians.

The likes of Nyoro, Wangui Ngirichi (former Kirinyaga Woman Rep), Irungu Kangata (Murang’a Governor and Kimani wa Matangi (Kiambu Governor) among others are said to be open to working with Gachagua.

Sources indicate the listed politicians could take the DCP ticket and Malala being keen to receive them, but Gachagua has his own preferred candidates.

There are also fears of Malala getting frustrated and joining other Luhya firebrands like ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Governor George Natembeya to form another party.

“Yes, rumour has it that Malala was contemplating joining the Linda Mwananchi group as an option. That never materialised but we now have to watch what will happen in the near future,” said the MP.

But as things stand now, it appears the two sides are tolerating each other and reports from Kakamega indicate that both Gachagua and Malala will be embarking on a four-day Western region tour most likely next week.

On Monday, the party’s National Executive Council also appointed Leonard Cheruiyot to join the NEC as Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock as a strategy to increase the party’s footprint in the Rift Valley region.

Gachagua said the NEC also appointed Abdi Noor Mohammed as chairperson for Northern region representation, while Wilson Kanyagu Ndungu of Daystar University will represent the youth caucus.

He said the party had received 34 expressions of interest for governor positions, 764 for Member of National Assembly seats and 11,564 aspirants for MCA positions while it had registered 4,576,345 members.

However, the DCP leader said Methu would hold the SG position in the acting capacity until a decision will be fully ratified owing to the fact that he is sponsored to the Senate by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

 “John Methu is the designated secretary general of the DCP party; from today, he will be the DCP spokesman, and his name will soon be forwarded to the registrar of political parties for due confirmation.”

He said Methu alongside Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia will spearhead the Ol Kalou by-election campaign and ensure that the DCP candidate, Samuel Ngotho, wins the mini-poll slated for July 16, 2026.

Methu has been Gachagua's strongest ally and after winning his trust has been entrusting with leading the DCP brigade in Mt Kenya region such as last year in July when Gachagua left for The US.

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