Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced a new date and venue for the official launch of his political party, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
The former DP spoke in his Wamunyoro residence on Monday, June 23, where he hosted over 500 Maa grassroots mobilisers as he intensified his efforts to ramp up numbers for the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
During the engagement, Gachagua spoke on the party launch, indicating that he had moved the event from Nairobi to the Maa region, with the new date set at July 7, 2025.
“I wanted to have the party launch in Nairobi, but they declined, Gachagua said. “I want to ask you, if you will allow, to allow the event to take place in Maa land.”
His plea to the Maa community was met with cheers from the crowd, with the former DP coining a new name for the community, labelling them ‘in-laws.’
While faulting the Kenya Kwanza government for allegedly frustrating his effort to set up his new political vehicle, Gachagua further urged the delegation to scout for a suitable private field to host his event.
He added, “This celebration now needs proper grounds, and it has to be private because I know there is a likelihood that goons can be sent. This is your political party, and the celebration will be for you. May you welcome guests and protect this event.”
The initial party launch was set for June 4 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi. However, at the last minute, Gachagua and his party were informed by Sports Kenya that they would have to move their event to a different venue due to the arena’s unavailability.
Since the botched launch, there has been uncertainty about the exact date and venue that Gachagua had settled on. This uncertainty culminated in rumours on Monday claiming that the party launch would take place on June 25 - the same day activists had planned nationwide protests to mark a year since the peak of the anti-Finance bill protests.
The DCP party was forced to issue a counter-message, clarifying that posters bearing opposition figures like Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua purporting the June 25 date of the party launch were fake.
The clarification came at an opportune time, as the DCP party was battling a wave of criticism following the circulation of misleading posters that featured images of senior opposition figures.
As far as the new launch date is concerned, DCP’s Deputy Party leader Cleophas Malala also reaffirmed it would be on July 7 during a live TV interview on Monday. Malala further reiterated that, contrary to President William Ruto's claims that the opposition had no agenda, the DCP party had an elaborate manifesto, which would be unveiled the same day.
“The DCP Party is only four weeks old. We haven’t even unveiled our manifesto, vision and mission. On July 7, we shall officially launch our party,” Malala confirmed on Monday.
