Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's new political vehicle, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), has issued its first warning to its members, barely hours after its launch.
The DCP's newly-appointed deputy party leader Cleophas Malala revealed on Thursday, May 15, said members found lying to Kenyans will be suspended.
This, according to Malala, was to emphasise the new party's firm stance on truthfulness.
“You can be suspended if you are found to be telling a lie. We don't want liars in this party. We are allergic to lies,” Malala said after the event, insisting that the party would be anchored on truth and transparency.
Malala also took a thinly-veiled swipe at his former political home - the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) - suggesting that dishonesty is heavily tolerated in the ruling party.
"As you know, I was in the previous party. But there is a tendency to lie in that party," he said without mentioning UDA directly. "The philosophy of our party is to speak the truth.”
Malala's appointment as the DCP's deputy party leader came as no surprise, especially after his publicised fallout with UDA, which boiled over after he directed a controversial school play in April.
The former UDA secretary general was ousted in August 2024 after a National Executive Council meeting chaired by UDA National chairperson Cecily Mbarire. He was replaced by former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar. Malala appears to be repositioning himself in Gachagua's new outfit, which is branding itself as an inclusive movement.
As far as the DCP's hierarchy is concerned, Malala was named as the interim Deputy Party Leader, while former Meru Senator and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi was named as the National Organising Secretary.
Former Laikipia Women Representative Cate Waruguru will be the National Women Leader. Former Starehe Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda will chair the Council of Eminent Persons in DCP.
The National Chairperson will be David Mingati, and he will be deputised by Peter Mwathi and Sarah Owino, who will oversee the Strategy and Operations, respectively.
During Malala's address on Thursday, the interim party deputy also confirmed there would be a bigger launch set for June 4, with the invite extended to all Kenyans.
“This is a party for Kenyans and we are all-inclusive,” he said. "I want to take this opportunity to ask all walks of life that we are having a launch on June 4 and we want to ask everyone to attend."
