Premium
Kasarani showdown: Gachagua reveals lavish DCP June 3 launch plan
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua poses for a photograph after unveiling his new political outfit, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), at the party headquarters in the Lavington, Nairobi, on May 15, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Rigathi Gachagua's new Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) is set to launch in a high-profile event at the Kasarani Stadium Gymnasium on June 3, 2025.
- This comes amid serious security concerns following attacks on Gachagua during public events.
- Gachagua's former ally, Ngunjiri Wambugu, has expressed strong opposition to Gachagua's political agenda, describing it as an "unwelcome dictatorship".
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has announced that he will be launching the party on June 3, 2025, in Nairobi.
The launch follows the unveiling of the party on May 15, 2025, where Mr Gachagua named himself as party leader and unveiled a list of interim officials.
Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala was named Mr Gachagua's deputy.
The party launch will also take place amid serious security concerns, as Mr Gachagua’s public functions have been attacked by goons, with the National Police Service taking no action.
"The DCP Party will be launched at the Kasarani Stadium Gymnasium on June 3, 2025," Gachagua said on Friday.
He confirmed that he has already booked the venue and that the only pending requirement for the big day is payment of the Sh3.8 million user bill for the Kasarani Gymnasium, with an estimated seating capacity of 5,000.
The launch edges him closer to what he terms the formation of an anti-President William Ruto alliance aimed at making history by unseating a sitting head of state after five years in office.
Mr Gachagua revealed that the gymnasium has billed him Sh3,706,800.
The bill includes the hire of the Indoor Arena at Sh1, 392,000; exclusive branding at Sh250, 000; a catering levy at Sh348, 000; and hire of the presidential suite at Sh116,000.
The DCP Party will further pay for four Very Important Persons (VIP) suites at Sh371,200, as well as the kitchenette area for Sh69,600.
Cleaning charges have been billed at Sh290,000, while the party will also pay Sh174,000 for the exhibition area. Activation for live coverage will cost Sh696,000.
Additional charges include the use of floodlights at Sh30,000 per hour.
"Kindly note that the grand total cost, as indicated at Three Million, Seven Hundred and Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Kenya Shillings Only, is exclusive of floodlight use, as the client has to indicate the hours required for the service," reads the billing officer’s note, Ms Carol Kasyoka.
In a request for user rights, a letter written by DCP Secretary General Mr Hezron Ombaga indicated that the party intends to use the facility from 8 am to 5 pm.
"The event is expected to host approximately 5,000 attendees, including party members, supporters, invited guests, and members of the press, for speeches, performances, and interactive sessions aimed at unveiling our vision, manifesto, and leadership to the Kenyan public," the application letter reads.
Mr Gachagua has since directed Mt Kenya residents to join the new party, which he says has already attracted 2.2 million members ahead of the launch. He expects to reach over 5 million followers.
On Thursday, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu lamented that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) is frustrating citizens who seek to decamp to DCP.
"The ORPP is making it difficult for our potential members to decamp, especially from UDA and Jubilee parties. The office is hiding under the issue of validation to frustrate the crossover," he said.
But Mr Gachagua’s former ally Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu continued his onslaught against his former boss, following their fallout two months ago.
Mr Wambugu told Nation that he is opposed to Mr Gachagua’s political agenda in Mt Kenya, terming it an "unwelcome dictatorship that we must defeat."
He said Mr Gachagua, as a person, doesn’t scare him.
"It is what he represents—and what we must stop. We built him… we have a responsibility to deal with him. Or he will leave us in a hole," Mr Wambugu said.
He said Mr Gachagua seeks to become the new regional leader, similar to what Mr Raila Odinga is to Luo Nyanza.
"What Gachagua is trying to do is create a situation where if you aren’t with him, you are with Kasongo. This we must resist. Believe me, Gachagua is obsessed with becoming a Raila Odinga in Mt Kenya—dictating who gets elected and who doesn’t," he said.
He added that Mr Gachagua seeks a situation where he is taken care of by those he puts in office, having the power to force a government to pay him.
He said dealing with Gachagua is not as hard as it seems.
"Do not assume that we are fighting for voters... We aren’t. We are fighting for the soul of the region. Former President Uhuru could have easily done what Gachagua is doing—why didn’t he?" he posed.
Mr Wambugu added that Mr Kenyatta did not pursue that path "because he knew how dangerous and retrogressive it is. We have 24 months to deal with the threat."
Mr Wambugu said, "Winning an election isn’t as important as protecting our political independence for some of us. And we are many who feel like this. Let’s see whether he’s smarter than us... We will walk and chew gum."
Mr Wambugu added, "I have no problem with us being tribal. But it must be for us—not for him."
He said dealing with Gachagua will take time.
"We didn’t get here overnight... We will not get out overnight. But we will get out. I assure you. We will get there the same way we got here. Slowly. But it’s always easier to bring down than to build up. And we have enough people motivated to do so," he said.