Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses journalists at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on December 27, 2024.
The Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) has announced plans to work with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua once it formally leaves President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza alliance.
The party – founded by former President Mwai Kibaki and politician John Keen in 1991 – issued a 30-day notice over its decision to withdraw from the ruling coalition, citing the failure of President Ruto and his administration to fulfil campaign pledges.
The decision comes as Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who resigned as the DP leader to take a position in the government, is in disagreement with President Ruto over abductions said to be instigated by state security agents.
Mr Muturi led DP into the Kenya Kwanza alliance, which also has President Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Ford Kenya of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, the now dissolved Amani National Congress of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Maendeleo Chap Chap, the Economic Freedom Party, Chama Cha Kazi, the Communist Party of Kenya, The Service Party, Tujibebe Wakenya Farmers Party, Devolution Party of Kenya and several others.
Mr Muturi has, however, delinked himself from the decision by DP, saying he is no longer in charge of the day-to-day running of the party.
“The party does not have to inform me about its activities. The management committee is at liberty to make whatever decision it feels is in the best interest of the party. They did not have to inform me of the decision to write to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties about the desire to leave the ruling coalition,” Mr Muturi told Citizen TV.
DP Secretary-General Jacob Haji told the Daily Nation that the decision to exit the ruling alliance was informed by the feeling that Kenya Kwanza has not delivered on its promises.
Mr Haji cited challenges in the country’s education and health sectors.
Mr Gachagua has indicated plans to launch a party in May, after postponing the announcement which had been set for New Year’s Day.
He has in the recent past described the yet-to-be-launched party as “brand new” while some of his allies have in the past indicated that it is an existing outfit.
“Our vehicle is ready. It is brand new and waiting in the showroom but I won’t reveal its number plate or colour just yet because our adversaries might attempt to sabotage its launch,” Mr Gachagua said last month.
“Come May and we will unveil it and open doors for Kenyans to join.”
Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru “MejaDonk”, an ally of Mr Gachagua, ruled out the chances of the former deputy president acquiring DP for the 2027 General Election.
“It is a party already registered but just because DP wants to withdraw from Kenya Kwanza does not mean it is the party we will troop to,” the lawmaker told the Daily Nation.
Mr Haji said apart from Mr Muturi, the party has not gained from government appointments two and half years since Dr Ruto became President.
Other parties also indicated plans to leave the ruling coalition if their grievances are not addressed. An official of one of the parties told the Daily Nation that the promise of state appointments has not been kept.
A number of fringe parties in Kenya Kwanza have been complaining of being ignored by UDA and the President.
“When you are in a coalition, you need to listen to your partners. Unfortunately, there are no consultations in Kenya Kwanza. We have never had a meeting as a coalition,” Mr Haji said.
“We cannot continue working with Kenya Kwanza but are ready to partner with like-minded politicians. We will work with Gachagua, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party boss Eugene Wamalwa and any other leader who speaks the language of the people.”
He added that DP has not had a formal engagement with anyone else for purposes of the next General Election.
“No party can go to the General Election on its own. Gachagua has not come to us but we welcome him, just like we welcome any other Kenyan,” Mr Haji added.
In the notice to the Kenya Kwanza Coalition Secretariat and copied to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and other affiliate parties, DP said that its stay in the ruling alliance is no longer tenable.
