The Democracy for Citizens Party, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has made a bold entry into Kenya’s political scene. On Thursday, the young party won three Member of County Assembly seats in tightly contested by-elections. For many voters, it felt like a message — quiet but firm — to the usual political heavyweights.
In Nairobi’s Kariobangi North Ward, DCP candidate David Wanyoike Warui topped the race with 2,282 votes. He edged out independent John Kimanzi, who followed closely with 1,956 votes. Other candidates from ODM and UDA trailed further behind in a crowded field of 16 hopefuls. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of MCA Joel Munuve earlier this year.
In Narok Town Ward, the margin was wider. DCP’s Douglas Makonde secured 6,007 votes to defeat UDA’s Robert Kanyinke Ole Kudate, who gathered 4,479 votes. The result marked one of the strongest statements by the party on the day.
Further west in Kisa East Ward, Aduda Okwiri of the DCP also emerged victorious after polling 1,952 votes. He beat Joel Ongoro of the Movement for Democracy and Growth, who received 1,541 votes.
Mr Gachagua did not hide his satisfaction. Writing on social media, he described the results as proof that voters had turned their backs on bribery and intimidation. “I salute the people of Narok Township, Kariobangi North and Kisa East for standing up to intimidation and violence to exercise their democratic right,” he said. He urged aspiring candidates under the DCP banner to remain close to their communities and keep listening to the people.
Not everyone shares his view. Rivals point to the intense nature of the campaigns and the tensions that marked parts of the polling period. There were claims of harassment and heavy-handed policing in some areas, which the authorities have not fully addressed. Still, voters turned up and cast their ballots.
For a party barely seven months old, these wins carry weight. Supporters see a fresh option in a political field long dominated by familiar names. Critics warn against reading too much into by-election results. Both sides, however, agree on one thing: the ground is shifting.
What this means for the broader political picture remains unclear. But for now, the DCP has announced its presence — not with noise, but with numbers.
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