Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unveiled an eight-point political strategy centred on cooperation with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, as he seeks to consolidate the Mt Kenya voting bloc ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), is facing growing political pressure in the region following the loss of several key allies and sustained attacks from President William Ruto, his former boss. State-aligned political actors have also kept him under constant pressure, setting the stage for what insiders describe as a critical 17-month political test.
Speaking to allies at the close of a three-day closed-door retreat in Kilifi County on Monday, January 19, 2026, Mr Gachagua announced that his deputy, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, would oversee the implementation of the party’s action plan.
He said that after consultations with like-minded legislators, he had approved the party’s plan of action for the year and tasked Mr Malala with spearheading its execution on behalf of DCP.
The retreat brought together members of Mr Gachagua’s inner circle to review recent political setbacks and realign the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 elections, with a strong focus on unity and strategic partnerships within Mt Kenya and beyond.
The Mt Kenya equation
A central pillar of the new strategy is cooperation with Mr Kenyatta and Mr Nyoro. Mr Kenyatta, who leads the Jubilee Party, has already endorsed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as Jubilee’s presidential candidate, while Mr Nyoro has not publicly declared his political ambitions for 2027.
In recent months, both Mr Gachagua and Mr Nyoro have emerged as outspoken defenders of Mr Kenyatta amid sustained criticism from allies of the ruling United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement.
However, disagreements persist over the leadership of the Mt Kenya political bloc. Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, a close ally of Mr Gachagua, challenged Mr Kenyatta to clearly commit to unity under what she described as the region’s recognised political leadership structures.
She recalled that in 2012, then Internal Security Cabinet Secretary John Michuki publicly declared Mr Kenyatta the community’s leader ahead of the 2013 election, which he went on to win. She added that Mr Kenyatta retained Mt Kenya’s support in 2017 but lost it in 2022 after backing opposition leader Raila Odinga. The region instead supported President Ruto and Mr Gachagua under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
DCP’s path to 2027
Ms Kihara argued that as the 2027 election approaches, Mr Kenyatta’s apparent move to pass the community’s political leadership to Dr Matiang’i should be reconsidered, insisting that Mr Gachagua is now the region’s political torchbearer.
Mr Gachagua, however, maintained that despite the planned cooperation with Mr Kenyatta and Mr Nyoro, DCP remains the main political vehicle for the Mt Kenya region. He said his focus was to unite the region under DCP, while allowing other parties to market themselves freely to voters.
Speaking during an interview on Kameme TV on January 12, Mr Gachagua said the Kilifi retreat was aimed at evaluating the party’s progress and strengthening its election machinery ahead of 2027.
In a social media post dated January 17, he said the meeting was about maintaining focus on the General Election, where DCP intends to play a central role in ending what he described as poor leadership in the country.
Mr Gachagua also cited internal sabotage and external pressure as major challenges facing the party, accusing his rivals of using spies, intimidation and violence to weaken DCP. He insisted that despite a reduction in numbers, DCP remains a people-driven movement focused on removing President Ruto from office in the 2027 General Election.
