Behold, here’s Gachagua’s new party

By Newsflash Reporter

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s much-anticipated new political party has finally been identified as the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

The party is expected to set the stage for a potential political earthquake in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.

The party, whose slogan is ‘Skiza Wakenya’ (Listen to the People), is expected to be formally unveiled tomorrow, Thursday, 15 May, at a press briefing in Nairobi, with a grand launch planned for May 29.

Political analysts believe this move will significantly reshape regional power dynamics, particularly within Mt Kenya, where dominance by President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is now being challenged.

Sources close to Gachagua confirmed to Newsflash that the DCP will serve as the former DP’s new political vehicle, following months of strained relations between him and key figures in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Gachagua, who was impeached in October last year, is determined to reclaim his political base and reposition himself as Mt Kenya’s foremost political kingpin

“This is not just about a new party. It’s about restoring the voice of the mountain,” said Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, a staunch Gachagua ally. “For too long, decisions about our future have been made without our input. DCP will bring that to an end.”

Senator Nyutu added that the party is built on the foundation of “people-first” politics. “Skiza Wakenya is more than a slogan. It’s a call to action, a promise to put citizens at the centre of governance,” he said.

A new battle for the Mountain

Political analysts argue that the creation of DCP is both strategic and timely. With internal fissures increasingly evident in the UDA party and Mt Kenya leaders feeling sidelined, the region appears ripe for a political shift.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Photo/Rigathi Gachagua/X

“Gachagua’s move is a calculated bid to consolidate the Mt Kenya vote bloc ahead of 2027,” said political analyst David Mugo. “If the DCP gains traction, it could destabilize UDA’s stranglehold in the region and force a realignment of alliances.”

Mugo noted that Gachagua’s new party also sends a strong message to President Ruto, who has in recent months appeared try to recapture the region through Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

“It’s now clear that Gachagua will not go down quietly, Mugo said. “He wants to return to the political arena on his own terms and with his own people.”

The emergence of the DCP further complicates an already fragmented political landscape in Mt Kenya.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party (JP) has been struggling to reclaim its relevance in the region, while UDA continues to face discontent over unfulfilled promises, economic challenges, and perceptions of centralization of power.

Excitement across Mt Kenya

Residents across key counties — Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kiambu, and Meru — have reportedly expressed growing disenchantment with the Kenya Kwanza regime. Gachagua’s allies believe the time is right for a political resurgence rooted in local interests.

“We are not fighting anyone,” said a senior official involved in organizing the DCP launch, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are simply creating a platform where the voices of ordinary Kenyans, especially from Mt Kenya, can be heard without distortion or interference.”

With the DCP set to unveil its interim leadership and roadmap tomorrow, political watchers are closely monitoring how sitting MPs, MCAs, and grassroots mobilizers will respond. Early indicators suggest several UDA-elected leaders may defect in the coming months.

“The party’s unveiling may look symbolic, but its long-term impact could be monumental,” said Mugo. “If Gachagua can rally the mountain behind him, the 2027 political equation could change entirely,” he added/