Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking on November 4 at hi Wamunyoro home / Screengrab

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he wants to emulate the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga by building a strong political party that can survive beyond election cycles.

Gachagua said the strength of a coalition depends on having a large and well-organised party, citing Raila's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as an example.

He praised Raila for building ODM into a strong political outfit with competitive members of Parliament, saying the party had remained influential for two decades.

“We have now known the secret of success in a coalition; it is having one big and strong party. I admire the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga; I admire him for one great thing he did. He built a strong and big party called ODM and placed competitive members of parliament,” Gachagua said.

He contrasted Raila's approach with the coalition formed in 2022, saying it lacked the strength of a single dominant party.

“I want to build a strong mass movement, a strong political party that will not be winded up after every election,” he said.

Gachagua said his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) was pursuing that model, adding that a strong party would give it a firm position in future coalition arrangements.

He also expressed confidence that DCP would secure a majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

“I want to assure you that DCP will be the majority in both houses,” he said.

Earlier, Gachagua had welcomed former Inooro FM presenter Evelyn Waithira Muithirania to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

Muithirania, who defected from the Jubilee Party declared her intention to contest for the Murang’a County Woman Representative seat on a DCP ticket.

Gachagua received Waithira at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County.

In a statement, Gachagua said Waithira had expressed her ambition to represent Murang’a residents in the National Assembly, describing her as a strong contender for the position.

“This morning at our Wamunyoro residence, I have welcomed Evelyn Waithira Muithirania, who has defected from the Jubilee Party and joined DCP,” said Gachagua.

The former Deputy President disclosed that Waithira had performed strongly in the 2022 General Election, finishing second in the race after garnering more than 100,000 votes.

He assured her that the party would conduct free and fair nominations, urging her to begin mobilising support ahead of the party primaries scheduled for March next year.

“I have assured her that our party nominations will be free and fair, and encouraged her to hit the ground running, particularly on the membership-registration drive and prepare for the nominations scheduled for next March,” he said.