Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has plunged into fresh controversy after party leader Rigathi Gachagua allegedly directed all aspirants to contribute money for a Christmas party he plans to host at his Wamunyoro home. The request, delivered through the party’s Secretary General, has sparked a wave of anger and confusion across the party’s ranks.
According to the internal memo, governor, senator and women representative aspirants were instructed to pay KSh 100,000 each, MP aspirants KSh 50,000, and MCA aspirants KSh 10,000. The Secretary General defended the demand, saying the funds would “facilitate the party leader to host a Christmas activity with his neighbors.”
But many aspirants are calling the request exploitative and unreasonable.
One MCA aspirant, who requested anonymity, questioned the logic behind the contribution:
“How are we being asked to fund someone else’s Christmas? We also have families and constituents who expect us to celebrate with them.”
A parliamentary aspirant went even further, accusing Gachagua of turning the party into a personal revenue stream:
“This is becoming a cash cow for him. We joined DCP to build a political movement—not to finance a private party at Wamunyoro.”
Some aspirants say the instructions felt more like a mandatory levy than a voluntary contribution, especially with the memo setting a strict deadline of December 20th. Others wondered why a party leader would need money from aspirants to “celebrate with neighbors,” questioning whether the event had any real political purpose.
Another irritated aspirant told reporters:
“If Gachagua wants to host a Christmas party, that’s fine. But let him fund it. We are struggling to run our campaigns; we cannot bankroll his festivities.”
The growing pushback now threatens to deepen divisions within DCP at a time the party is attempting to consolidate its presence ahead of the 2027 elections. Whether Gachagua withdraws the directive—or whether this escalates into a full-blown internal rebellion—remains to be seen.
