Chaos broke out this afternoon at the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) headquarters after hundreds of Gen Z participants protested the party’s failure to pay transport reimbursements — despite reports that aspirants had contributed over Ksh 10 million to finance the event.
The meeting, convened by former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, was meant to bring together young leaders from across the Mt. Kenya region to discuss youth involvement in politics and the party’s 2027 strategy. However, what began as a political engagement quickly turned into frustration and outrage.
According to party insiders, DCP aspirants were asked to contribute funds to facilitate the meeting — with gubernatorial aspirants contributing Ksh 100,000, MPs and senators Ksh 50,000, and MCAs Ksh 10,000 each. The money was reportedly meant to cater for transport reimbursements and lunch for about 300 Gen Z attendees.
Participants had been promised specific amounts based on their location: Ksh 2,000 for those from Nairobi and Kiambu, Ksh 5,000 for attendees from Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, and Embu, and Ksh 10,000 for those from Nyandarua, Laikipia, and Meru.
However, after the meeting ended, many young people were seen stranded outside the DCP offices, claiming they had not received any money. Some alleged that party officials had disappeared immediately after the event concluded.
Sources within the party claim that once the contributions were collected, the funds were handed to Mr. Gachagua, who later left the venue accompanied by DCP Secretary General and Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala. This has fueled anger among both the aspirants and the attendees, who now accuse the party leadership of misusing the funds.
“We thought the stories about Gachagua’s greed were exaggerated, but today we have experienced it firsthand,” said one frustrated participant from Kirinyaga who spoke to reporters.
As of late afternoon, dozens of young attendees remained at the venue, unsure how they would return to their home counties. The incident has deepened discontent within DCP, with several aspirants threatening to reconsider their association with the party if transparency is not restored.
