Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has distanced himself from deputy party leader Cleophas Malala’s push for Edwin Sifuna.
Speaking in a media interview on October 28, Gachagua compared Malala to President William Ruto, calling him a “smaller version” of the Head of State.
Gachagua maintained that Malala was entitled to advocate for Sifuna but clarified that his support was a personal opinion, not an official party position.
According to the party leader, the party leader or Secretary-General should communicate DCP’s official position, not statements from the deputy party leader.
“The deputy party leader is not the spokesman of the DCP. He should have just clarified that that is his wish. You know, all politics is local. He is just being a smaller version of William Ruto,” he said, emphasizing that Malala could express his political preferences without speaking on behalf of the entire party.
He added that he had advised Malala to distinguish between his personal views and official party communication.
Why Malala Is Lobbying for Sifuna
Explaining Malala’s comparison with Ruto, Gachagua argued that politicians often shape their messages around the interests of the communities they represent.
He suggested Malala was appealing to Western Kenya voters by promoting Sifuna as a potential flag bearer, saying the region would naturally want one of its own in that position.
Despite his criticism, Gachagua described Malala as a promising young politician he was mentoring and said he did not intend to deal with him harshly over the remarks.
Gachagua also confirmed that Malala had been trying to persuade him to support Sifuna, adding that the lobbying was ongoing.
“He would want to persuade Kalonzo and persuade me to support Sifuna. It’s within his right,” Gachagua said.
The DCP leader defended political lobbying, noting that leaders and their allies routinely approach other politicians to seek support for preferred candidates.
He said some politicians were also lobbying Kalonzo Musyoka and others to support their own political ambitions, describing the discussions as a normal part of political engagement.
Push for United Opposition Presidential Candidate in 2027
Speaking in an interview after returning from a visit to the United States, Rigathi said he spent time reflecting on the country’s political direction and consulting Kenyans living abroad before developing a strategy he intends to share with opposition leaders.
According to the DCP leader, Kenyans across the country were increasingly demanding political change and believed the opposition needed to avoid splitting its votes among multiple presidential candidates.
Additionally, the DCP leader said he had already discussed his ideas with some opposition colleagues and intended to continue consulting with other political formations.
He expressed optimism that the opposition could agree on a single candidate if its leaders reached a consensus on the selection process.
Rigathi maintained that the opposition’s success would depend on identifying a candidate capable of attracting support across different regions and persuading Kenyans to vote for the coalition.
Despite maintaining that he has the political mobilization capacity and resources required to challenge President Ruto, Rigathi confirmed he would support another opposition candidate if the coalition agreed on a formula that did not favor him.
However, he rejected suggestions that some opposition leaders should mobilize votes only for another candidate, saying voters must make the final decision at the ballot.
“For you to be elected the president of Kenya, you must go out there, talk to Kenyans, mobilise them, persuade them,” he said.
Gachagua Defends Kalonzo’s and Sifuna’s Place in the Opposition
Gachagua also defended Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka against suggestions that he could abandon the opposition coalition.
He described Kalonzo as a committed member of the team. He praised his political loyalty, arguing that he had remained steadfast despite what Gachagua characterized as past betrayals by former opposition leader Raila Odinga.
He further accused President Ruto of tailoring his political messaging to different regions, arguing that the President adopts different positions depending on the audience.
Gachagua maintained that Kenyans could judge political leaders by their statements and actions rather than accepting campaign messages at face value.
He also defended Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, claiming President William Ruto had repeatedly attacked him in other regions, calling him “Mr Empty” and using other derogatory remarks.
Rigathi said he urged Sifuna to challenge the President over the alleged attacks and called on Western Kenya residents to demand that Ruto stop disparaging their leaders if he wanted their votes.
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