In politics, strength is not measured only by how many people join you. It is also measured by how many people stay with you. When loyal allies begin leaving one after another, it usually means something deeper is happening.
Recent signals that Njeri Maina may be preparing to leave DCP should therefore not be ignored. If that happens, it will raise serious questions about Rigathi Gachagua and how the party is being managed.
What many Kenyans are now noticing is a clear pattern.
Every time one of Gachagua’s close allies leaves the party, the same explanation quickly follows. We are told they feared nominations, that they were gatekeepers, or that they were moles working for other political camps.
At first, such explanations may sound believable. But when the same story is repeated every time someone leaves, people begin to doubt it. After a while it starts sounding like a student who always says “the dog ate my homework.”
Eventually, no one takes the excuse seriously.
It simply cannot be that every person leaving the party is afraid of nominations. It also cannot be that every former ally suddenly becomes a mole the moment they disagree. At some point, the honest question must be asked: could the problem be closer to the center?
If Njeri Maina, a visible figure around the movement, actually leaves, then it suggests there may be serious internal problems. When several loyal supporters walk away from the same political house, blaming them all may not be the best answer. Sometimes the house itself needs inspection.
Another political truth is that former allies often become the strongest opponents. They understand the internal strategies and know how the system works.
For Rigathi Gachagua, this should be a moment of reflection. If respected allies continue to leave, the issue may not be fear of nominations. It may simply mean that something inside DCP needs fixing before more people decide to walk out the door.
