A political dispute involving Njeri Maina, the Woman Representative for Kirinyaga County, and Cleophas Malala has opened a window into the internal political strategy of Rigathi Gachagua and how he is managing leaders around him.
The dispute started after Njeri Maina publicly accused Malala, the Deputy Party Leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), of working against leaders allied to Gachagua. In her statement, she claimed that Malala held a meeting in Kenol with several MCAs from Kirinyaga and allegedly gave them KSh 20,000 each to mobilize against leaders she described as Gachagua’s foot soldiers.
But insiders within the party say the public exchange is only a small part of a much bigger internal issue — money and party discipline.
According to sources within the party, elected leaders who align themselves with Gachagua’s political movement are expected to contribute about KSh 200,000 every month to support party activities. The money is meant to help the party build grassroots structures, organize political meetings and prepare for the next election cycle.
While several leaders are said to be making their contributions, others are reportedly reluctant. Some of them, insiders say, feel that their personal popularity and political influence are bigger than the party itself.
Within party circles, Njeri Maina is now being viewed as one of the leaders perceived to believe that her political stature is larger than the party structure. Insiders claim that this perception has grown partly because she has allegedly not been making the expected financial contributions — an issue that the party leadership takes very seriously.
Sources close to Gachagua say he believes many elected leaders from the region were able to win their seats because of the strong political wave he created under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during the last general election.
From his perspective, that political momentum played a major role in helping many leaders get elected. Because of this, insiders say he believes those leaders should show loyalty and gratitude by helping to fund party activities.
Political observers say Malala’s tough and confrontational approach may actually be part of a deliberate strategy. By publicly clashing with prominent leaders, the party leadership sends a message to others that ignoring party obligations may come with political consequences.
And with whispers already circulating around John Methu, the senator for Nyandarua County, insiders say the next political pressure over party contributions could soon shift in his direction.
In the end, the message within the party appears simple: enjoy the party umbrella — but also help pay for it.
