The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has been rocked by yet another crisis after Mbeere North aspirant Duncan Mbui quit the party in fury, declaring he will contest the by-election as an independent candidate.
Mbui, popularly known as Kivui Kivui, accused Gachagua of betrayal and claimed the DCP had used him for money and grassroots muscle, only to dump him at the last minute.
According to Mbui, he had already given Gachagua Ksh5 million as commitment for the party ticket and spent over Ksh10 million building campaign networks across Mbeere North. He says he feels cheated and insulted by the party’s abrupt decision to block his candidature.
“I was loyal, I sacrificed, I built the ground for DCP in Mbeere North. But Gachagua has treated me like an ATM — take the money, dump the man. He thinks people are pawns to be played with, but I will show him voters are not fools. I will teach him and his DCP a lesson at the ballot,” Mbui thundered.
His defection comes barely a day after chaos erupted at DCP headquarters in Meru, where rival factions clashed over attempts to topple chairman Timothy Kithinji and install James Mithika. Party insiders pointed fingers at Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, accusing him of meddling to push his allies.
The fallout underscores growing cracks within Gachagua’s young party, with critics now questioning his credibility and warning that betrayal of loyal supporters could sink DCP before it even finds its footing.
With Mbui now going independent, the Mbeere North by-election has morphed into a litmus test for Gachagua’s leadership and whether DCP can withstand rebellion from within.
