Rigathi Gachagua Defends DCP Against Claims of Undermining Rival Parties

• Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims that his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) is undermining rival parties in the Mt Kenya region.
• Gachagua welcomes political competition and has never asked anyone to fold their parties, emphasizing the importance of multiple political parties in the region.
• Any decision to merge or dissolve a political party must be made by its lawful organs, as stipulated in the Political Parties Act.
• Rival parties have accused Gachagua of applying double standards by calling for dissolution while engaging with elected UDA leaders and senior government officials.

Gachagua has attributed DCP’s growing popularity to what he described as aggressive grassroots mobilisation by the party’s leadership and supporters.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been at the center of controversy in the Mt Kenya region, with rival parties accusing his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of becoming too dominant. However, Gachagua has dismissed these claims, stating that he welcomes political competition and has never asked anyone to fold their parties. In a recent interview, he emphasized the importance of having multiple political parties in the region, saying 'democracy thrives on competition.' This stance is in line with Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan's right to make political choices, including joining and participating in a party of their choice.

Any decision to merge or dissolve a political party must be made by its lawful organs, as stipulated in the Political Parties Act. This means that clients considering joining or participating in DCP should review the party's constitution and the relevant legislation to ensure they understand their rights and obligations. The leaders of rival parties have also pointed out that Gachagua's call for dissolution is at odds with his engagement with elected UDA leaders and senior government officials, highlighting a perceived double standard.

Gachagua's comments have sparked a rift within the Mt Kenya opposition, with some parties rejecting his call to dissolve their organizations. The former Deputy President has attributed DCP's growing popularity to aggressive grassroots mobilization by the party's leadership and supporters. However, rival parties argue that this is not a reflection of their own weaknesses, but rather a result of Gachagua's efforts to consolidate power. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the future of Kenyan politics will be shaped by the choices made by its citizens, not by individual leaders or party leaders.

Lawyers advising clients on Kenyan politics should note that any decision to merge or dissolve a political party must be made by the lawful organs of that party, and not by individual leaders like Rigathi Gachagua. This means that clients considering joining or participating in DCP should review the party's constitution and the Political Parties Act to ensure they understand their rights and obligations.

Source: Original reporting via Daily Nation