NAIROBI,Kenya Aug 5 – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) is undermining other political outfits in the Mt Kenya region, insisting he welcomes political competition and has never asked anyone to fold their parties.

📻 Breaking It Down

Speaking on Wednesday, Gachagua responded to concerns raised by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and former Senator Lenny Kivuti, who had accused DCP of becoming too dominant in the region.

“I saw yesterday my brothers Justin Muturi, Peter Munya and Lenny Kivuti were complaining that DCP has become too strong and that Riggy G does not want other political parties. I think they are misguided,” Gachagua said.

He maintained that the region should have multiple political parties, saying democracy thrives on competition.

📌 What You Need to Know

“We want many political parties in Mt Kenya so that everyone can compete. I have not told anyone to dissolve their party,” he said.

Gachagua attributed DCP’s growing popularity to what he described as aggressive grassroots mobilisation by the party’s leadership and supporters, urging leaders of rival parties to strengthen their own political campaigns instead of blaming DCP for its rise.

“DCP has become popular because its party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, and his team are working hard. So, I am telling my brothers, come, let’s work together and market your political parties. If you don’t market your parties, you will end up making losses,” he said.

The former Deputy President also took a swipe at Peter Munya’s Party of National Unity (PNU), citing its poor performance in the recent Ol Kalou by-election as evidence that rival parties had failed to connect with voters.

“Munya and PNU party did not even visit Ol Kalou. Your candidate only got 28 votes in that by-election. Isn’t that embarrassing?” Gachagua posed.

A rift emerged within the Mt Kenya opposition after Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, PNU’s Peter Munya and DEP’s Lenny Kivuti rejected former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call to dissolve their parties and fold into the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya