Ex-Deputy President books major Nairobi venue as he pushes for new political chapter
Nairobi —Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to make a bold return to Kenya’s political stage, with a formal launch of his new political outfit the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) scheduled for 3 June at the Kasarani Stadium Gymnasium.
The venue has already been secured, according to a letter sent to stadium officials by the party’s interim Secretary General, Hezron Obaga. It described the upcoming gathering as “a people-centred political reawakening.”
The event, expected to draw around 5,000 supporters, will mark the public unveiling of the party’s leadership, vision and manifesto. It will include speeches, performances, and what organizers call “interactive sessions.”
“This is not just a party, it’s a movement,” Mr. Gachagua said during a recent briefing. “We are here to restore dignity to wananchi, to listen to their concerns, and to offer a political vehicle that reflects their dreams not the ambitions of disconnected cartels in power.”
The DCP has been billed by its backers as a fresh start for disillusioned voters. The party’s structure includes representation from each of Kenya’s 47 counties as well as the diaspora, suggesting a deliberate push for broad national appeal.
Though still awaiting formal recognition from the Registrar of Political Parties, DCP has already made headlines. The announcement comes less than a fortnight after a private “pre-launch” event in Lavington on 15 May, which featured the reveal of the party’s name, slogan and logo.
The Lavington event sparked confusion, with some mistaking it for the official launch. A party official clarified this week that it was only a curtain-raiser to the main event at Kasarani.
The upcoming launch carries a price tag of Sh3.7 million, according to an invoice seen by this reporter. The amount covers venue hire, branding, catering levies, media services, cleaning and exhibition space.
The party’s interim team includes some familiar political names. Former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, ex-Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, and former Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru are among those tapped for leadership roles.
Their involvement suggests that DCP may not only be targeting grassroots voters, but also attempting to draw disaffected political heavyweights into its fold.
As Kenya’s political landscape shifts, all eyes will now be on Kasarani, where Gachagua hopes to convince the public and the political class that his new party is more than just a rebrand. Whether it can capture the public imagination or merely add to the growing list of political outfits remains to be seen.
