DALLAS — Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua stepped up his political campaign on U.S. soil by meeting Kenyans in Texas and calling for stronger diaspora involvement in shaping the country’s future.
Speaking to a packed hall in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, on Saturday night, DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua said Kenya must chart a new direction one rooted in unity, economic revival, and citizen accountability. Gachagua emphasized that the diaspora’s role in Kenya’s political and economic landscape is no longer optional.
“The diaspora contributes massively through remittances. But beyond money, they carry our values and voices globally,” DCP party leader Gachagua said. “I thanked them for their patriotism and consistent concern for Kenya’s wellbeing.”
The Texas forum, part of a broader U.S. tour focused on pressing issues including election integrity, youth participation, police brutality, and corruption. DCP party leader Gachagua said feedback from Kenyans abroad confirmed a growing consensus for reforms at home.
“There’s a shared belief, here and in Kenya, that the time has come to reset the moral, political, and economic course of our country,” Gachagua said. “This is not just about leadership. It’s about a future that values every citizen.”
Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) framed his push as a national liberation movement. Gachagua’s speeches have echoed calls for justice, transparency, and inclusion. “We must confront discrimination, protect rights, and fix our broken economy,” he said.
The Dallas stop was also marked by a show of personal symbolism. Gachagua and his wife, Pastor Dorcas Gachagua, posed beside a “Karibu Wamunyoro” banner a replica of a sign at their Mathira home that became a symbol during his 2024 impeachment proceedings.
“Feeling at home, far and away,” Gachagua posted on his official X account, thanking the diaspora community for the warm reception.
In Texas, he also proposed that diaspora professionals be appointed to diplomatic posts. “They’ve lived in these countries. They understand the systems better than many of us back home,” he argued, calling for a merit-based foreign service.
However, Gachagua’s campaign has not been without backlash. Mumias East MP Peter Salasya recently accused him of fueling ethnic divisions and dismissed his campaign as “tribal.” Gachagua rejected the claims, stating his message is centered on national recovery and inclusion.
Gachagua also linked Kenya’s economic struggles to poor leadership and mismanagement. “This isn’t just politics. It’s about survival,” he said. “Young people are unemployed. Women are suffering. Citizens are being ignored.”
The Dallas meeting follows earlier engagements in Boston and Seattle. The U.S. tour is expected to continue in Baltimore. Gachagua’s goal is to consolidate diaspora support ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
As the political landscape in Kenya shifts, Gachagua’s message of reform and diaspora empowerment marks a clear break from establishment politics and a bid to reposition himself as a key voice in shaping what he calls a “second liberation.”
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