Gachagua distances himself from DP’s Mbeere North loss

By Newsflash Reporter

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has distanced his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) from the highly contested Mbeere North by-election, insisting the party did not field a candidate in the race.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service at P.C.E.A Kariobangi North, Berea Parish Church in Nairobi on Sunday, November 30, 2025, Gachagua said he only visited Mbeere North, Embu County, to throw his weight behind Democratic Party (DP) candidate Newton Kariuki, popularly known as “Karish”.

“You should not worry about Mbeere. DCP had candidate in Kariobangi North, which we won; Narok Town, which we won and Kisa East, which we won. We were beaten slightly in Purko and Magarini,” he said, adding: “A party which is only seven months old won three out of five seats.”

Gachagua’s remarks came barely a day after he skipped the burial of the mother of former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti on Saturday—an absence that has fueled talk of widening cracks in the United Opposition alliance. He, Kivuti and former Public Service CS Justin Muturi had been backing DP’s Karish in the Mbeere race, prompting observers to read political significance into his no-show.

In the final tally released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Karish secured 15,308 votes, losing narrowly to UDA’s Leonard Wamuthende, who garnered 15,802 votes, clinching the parliamentary seat.

Takes aim at media coverage

Gachagua used the church event to fault media houses over their interpretation of the by-election results. He accused analysts of selectively highlighting outcomes that cast DCP in a negative light, while ignoring what he termed as decisive victories in several wards.

“I have seen newspaper analysts saying a lot. They have been avoiding to speak about our victory in Nairobi, Narok and Kisa. They have only been talking about Mbeere,” he said. “I went to Mbeere to help DP. Their victory was rigged, and it’s okay.”

The former deputy president said DCP was focused on growing its support base in urban areas, especially the capital, and would use its recent wins as a foundation for broader political expansion.

“For us, we are focusing on our party, the DCP. We want the party to be popular in Nairobi. We want the victory in Kariobangi North to be the start of the party’s journey in Nairobi,” said Gachagua.

His optimism was buoyed by DCP’s win in the Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly race, where the party’s candidate David Warui emerged victorious. According to IEBC statistics, Warui garnered 2,282 votes, defeating independent candidate Kimanzi John Katua, who obtained 1,956 votes.

Warui described the victory as transformative both for the ward and for the young party. He said the win marked “a defining moment not just for Kariobangi North but even for the DCP,” describing it as proof that the party had begun carving a place for itself in the city’s politics.

Gunshots disrupt thanksgiving service

The thanksgiving service, however, was briefly thrown into chaos after gunshots rang out outside the church. Witnesses said armed officers lobbed tear gas canisters and fired into the air in an attempt to disperse groups that had begun to push and shove near the entrance.

The commotion forced congregants to momentarily duck for safety as police tried to control the situation. Though calm was eventually restored, the incident left many shaken, with some questioning why the gathering had attracted such heavy security response.

Despite the disruption, Gachagua continued with his address, reiterating that DCP’s performance in the by-elections showed strong promise for a party that is less than a year old. He said the movement was determined to “chart its course without fear,” maintaining that internal resilience and discipline would anchor its future growth.