The plan by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua to screen supporters of President William Ruto seeking to join his party has failed to take off. The move was announced after DCP won the Ol Kalou by-election in July 2026, with many Ruto allies expressing interest in joining the party. Gachagua had stated that those who wanted to join would have to undergo a rigorous vetting process.
A committee of seven members was formed on August 2, 2026, to oversee the vetting process, including Senators John Methu, Joe Nyutu, and Karungo Thang'wa. However, the plan faced opposition from DCP members, who wanted a more public process. They argued that the screening should be done in public rallies rather than through secret interviews.
The opposition to the vetting process led to the committee failing to start its work. Some members, like Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, who had sought to join DCP, were publicly humiliated when they were rejected by party members. Kagombe had asked Gachagua for forgiveness and announced his departure from Ruto's party, but his attempts to join DCP were met with rejection and ridicule.
The experience of Kagombe and others deterred many from seeking to join DCP through the vetting process. Wangui Ngirichi, a former chairman of Kenya Seed Company, faced a similar ordeal when he tried to join the party, with his meetings turning violent. The incidents have left the vetting committee idle, with no one having formally applied for screening.
DCP officials say the vetting rules are still in place, but the party has effectively abandoned the plan. The failure of the vetting process has been attributed to opposition from DCP members, who preferred a more public approach to determining who could join the party.
The outcome has been that many politicians who had planned to join DCP have opted to remain in Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) or seek other political platforms ahead of the 2027 general election. The rejection of the vetting process has also highlighted the challenges faced by Gachagua in balancing the interests of his party members with those of Ruto's allies seeking to join.
Analysts say the collapse of the vetting plan reflects the internal dynamics within DCP and the complexities of party politics in Kenya. The incident has also raised questions about the ability of Gachagua to manage the influx of new members and the implications for his party's strategy in the 2027 elections.
Key points
- The plan to screen Ruto supporters joining Gachagua's party failed due to opposition from DCP members.
- The vetting committee, formed on August 2, 2026, failed to start its work due to the opposition.
- Many politicians who had planned to join DCP have opted to remain in Ruto's UDA or seek other political platforms.
