Tension is rising within the Democracy for Citizens Party after a message from the party secretariat reminded aspirants of their “commitment” to contribute KSh 400,000 each to support the party’s Mbeere North by-election candidate. The reminder has triggered a fresh wave of discontent, with several aspirants privately accusing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua—widely seen as the party’s political patron—of turning the party into a personal fundraising machine.
According to the message sent to aspirants, the contribution is tied to a meeting held on Saturday, 8th November, where they allegedly agreed to support the party’s activities in upcoming by-elections.
The text read:
“Good Morning Aspirant. This is to remind you that as a follow up to the meeting the Party leader held with you on Saturday 8th November you made a commitment to support the party in the forthcoming by-elections. Kindly deposit the support at the Party Secretariat before Wednesday 19th November. We look forward for your support.”
However, instead of cooperation, the reminder has sparked an uproar. Several aspirants, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid political retaliation, complained that Gachagua has increasingly been using party structures to demand money from those seeking nominations.
One aspirant described the situation as “pure extortion disguised as party support,” adding that the Deputy President appears to be “growing more desperate by the day,” especially as political tensions in Mount Kenya continue to shift.
Another aspirant claimed that the demands have become so frequent that many feel they are “funding an individual, not a party.” The source alleged that while aspirants are pressured to contribute large sums, “nobody ever sees that money being used for campaigns or party programs.”
A senior party official also voiced frustration, stating that aspirants routinely contribute funds “under pressure,” yet the money “never seems to reach the party’s actual operations.” According to the official, several members believe Gachagua “asks for money but doesn’t channel it through the party systems.”
The growing dissatisfaction paints a picture of a party in turmoil, with its leadership facing accusations of financial manipulation and loss of trust among its own aspirants. As pressure mounts, insiders warn that continued demands could further fracture the party and weaken its credibility ahead of future political contests.
