Gachagua denies DCP has settled on Sifuna as 2027 presidential candidate

Gachagua denies DCP has settled on Sifuna as 2027 presidential candidate

Gachagua said the declaration by his deputy, Cleophas Malala, was a personal opinion and not an official party position.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that the party has agreed to back Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its preferred presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election, saying the declaration by his deputy, Cleophas Malala, was a personal opinion and not an official party position.

Speaking during an interview on KTN News on Wednesday, October 28, Gachagua said Malala was entitled to campaign for Sifuna but could not speak on behalf of the party without a formal decision.

“First and foremost, the deputy party leader is not the spokesman of DCP. The spokesman of DCP is the secretary-general or the party leader,” Gachagua said.

He added: “So that is not the party position. That is his personal opinion, and he’s allowed.”

Gachagua acknowledged that Malala had been trying to persuade him to support Sifuna, describing such lobbying as part of normal political engagement as opposition leaders explore possible alliances ahead of the August 2027 elections.

The remarks followed Malala’s claim that DCP had settled on Sifuna as its preferred candidate and planned to lobby Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka to support him.

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Kalonzo visited Gachagua at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County on Monday, October 26, for talks on opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections.

The meeting came six days after Gachagua hosted Sifuna and leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement at the same residence on October 20.

“There’s a lot of lobbying that is going on, as it should be, by the way. And there’s nothing wrong with people lobbying for their kinsmen, for their preferred candidate,” Gachagua said.

The DCP leader also addressed concerns surrounding Kenya’s Ebola outbreak, saying he had received conflicting accounts about the disease and the possibility of a government-imposed lockdown.

“Some people have told me that the Ebola disease in the country is a gimmick to solicit funds from the international community. Another group is telling me it is preparation for a lockdown so that campaigns don't go on. Another group is telling me it is real, and it is sheer recklessness on the part of Duale and company,” Gachagua said.

His remarks came amid reports of Ebola cases and deaths in Kenya. The Ministry of Health had previously said that a lockdown, travel restrictions and bans on public gatherings were not under consideration.