Reports indicate that DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua has abruptly cut short his United Kingdom tour following what insiders describe as disappointing attendance figures, weak fundraising performance, and growing tension with event organisers.
According to individuals familiar with the matter, several of the organised dinners held during the tour failed to attract the expected numbers, with some events reportedly drawing fewer than 100 attendees. The low turnout is said to have significantly affected planned fundraising efforts, with total collections estimated at under Ksh 2 million, far below initial projections meant to support the tour’s operational costs.
Sources further claim that Gachagua expressed frustration during closed-door interactions with organisers, issuing what attendees described as a stern reprimand over the coordination and execution of the trip. He is said to have lamented that the visit did not meet expectations and questioned the value of continuing with the remaining schedule.
The most notable setback reportedly came when organisers of the Wendo Festival, a key Kikuyu diaspora cultural gathering in the UK, declined to grant him a platform at the event. The appearance had been considered a major highlight of the tour, and its cancellation is believed to have contributed to the decision to scale down the visit.
Diaspora members who attended some of the engagements described mixed reactions, with some citing organisational confusion and others pointing to low mobilisation as a key factor behind the poor turnout. The situation has since sparked debate within diaspora circles about political engagement abroad and the effectiveness of such fundraising and outreach tours.
In private remarks attributed to him, Gachagua is said to have expressed disappointment, alleging that the trip had not only failed to achieve its financial goals but also exposed weaknesses in planning and coordination. He reportedly told organisers that the experience had been embarrassing and not worth the time spent in the United Kingdom.
As a result, he is now expected to return to Kenya earlier than scheduled, with uncertainty remaining over whether the remaining engagements will be rescheduled or cancelled entirely.
