Serious questions are emerging over the stability of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) following disjointed opposition activities and growing discontent among aspirants in Murang’a County.
Rallies held yesterday under the influence of Rigathi Gachagua were expected to demonstrate strength and unity. Instead, they exposed visible gaps, most notably the absence of any prominent gubernatorial aspirant. This has raised concerns about the level of confidence serious candidates have in the party’s current direction.
Former minister Jamleck Kamau, widely seen as a key DCP figure in Murang’a, skipped the rallies and chose to engage a group of young people separately. His move has been interpreted by observers as a sign of quiet dissatisfaction or strategic distancing.
Attendance by local leaders was also underwhelming, with only a handful of MCAs present—largely those perceived to be aligning themselves closely with Gachagua in anticipation of political goodwill ahead of 2027.
At the same time, Fred Matiang’i held a parallel rally in the same county, further underlining the lack of coordination within the opposition and weakening the impact of DCP’s mobilization efforts.
Behind the scenes, deeper frustrations are surfacing. Aspirants, particularly those eyeing gubernatorial seats, are reportedly being asked to contribute up to KSh1 million to organize rallies in their counties. Many now say the cost is becoming unsustainable, especially given fears that after investing heavily, a wealthier candidate could still emerge and secure the party ticket.
These concerns echo recent warnings by Njeri Maina, who cautioned that the party risks being overtaken by moneyed interests at the expense of loyal grassroots members.
With low turnout, parallel campaigns, and rising complaints over costs and fairness, the developments in Murang’a suggest a party struggling to maintain cohesion—fueling perceptions that DCP’s political strength may be steadily declining.
