NAIROBI, Kenya — Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has projected that his party could receive about Sh700 million annually from the Political Parties Fund if it secures substantial support in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua made the projection on Sunday, September 20, 2026, while speaking during his ongoing tour of the United States.
He said DCP would have access to significant resources if it wins the presidency and secures a large number of parliamentary and county assembly seats.
Gachagua predicts Sh700 million annual funding
Gachagua said the Political Parties Fund provides state financing to eligible political parties, with the amount received linked in part to their electoral performance.
“But after next year, we will be a party with resources, because when we get the presidency, and we get so many MPs and MCAs, there is a Political Parties Fund where the government funds political parties,” Gachagua said.
He added that DCP could receive approximately Sh700 million a year based on his assessment of the party’s expected performance.
“The more votes you have, the more you get. From my own estimation, we’ll be able to get about 700 million Kenya shillings every year from the state, because our party is very strong and is getting stronger,” he said.
Gachagua’s Sh700 million figure is a projection, not an existing allocation to DCP.
The actual amount would depend on DCP’s performance in the 2027 election, whether it meets the statutory eligibility requirements and the amount available for distribution under the Political Parties Fund.
How the Political Parties Fund works
The Political Parties Fund is established under the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D, and administered through the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Under Section 25 of the Act, 70 per cent of the Fund is distributed proportionately according to the total votes secured by each political party in the preceding General Election.
A further 15 per cent is distributed according to the number of candidates from special interest groups elected on a party ticket, while 10 per cent is allocated based on the total number of elected representatives from the party.
The remaining 5 per cent is reserved for administration of the Fund.
The Act also sets eligibility conditions. A party is not entitled to funding if, among other requirements, it does not have an elected member of the National Assembly, Senate, a governor or a county assembly member. It must also meet requirements on gender representation and representation of special interest groups in its governing body.
For the vote-based component, the law provides that votes from presidential, parliamentary, gubernatorial and county assembly elections are taken into account.
DCP would need to meet legal requirements
DCP would therefore not automatically qualify for Sh700 million simply by participating in the 2027 election.
Its eventual allocation would depend on the votes and elected representatives it secures, as well as compliance with the statutory conditions governing access to the Fund.
The size of the Fund available for distribution would also affect the final amount received by individual parties.
The legal framework means Gachagua’s projection cannot be treated as a guaranteed annual payment.
Gachagua calls DCP a popular party
Gachagua also described DCP as one of Kenya’s most popular political parties despite having been established only recently.
“Our party is one year old; it’s the most popular party in the country because of listening to the ground. Again, it’s the only party where young leaders are being mentored meaningfully,” he said.
The claim about DCP’s popularity is Gachagua’s political assessment and is not an independent measure of the party’s national support.
DCP’s electoral strength will ultimately be tested through votes and elected representatives in the 2027 General Election.
DCP registered in February 2025
The Democracy for the Citizens Party was fully registered by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties on February 3, 2025. The official registration records list DCP among Kenya’s fully registered political parties.
The party was publicly unveiled in May 2025 at its headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi.
Its formation followed the political fallout between Gachagua and President William Ruto that intensified in 2024 and culminated in Gachagua’s removal as Deputy President.
The National Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Gachagua on October 1, 2024, while the Senate voted to remove him from office on October 17, 2024.
Gachagua subsequently embarked on consultations with supporters and other groups before establishing DCP as his new political vehicle.
DCP positions itself for 2027
Gachagua has increasingly positioned DCP as a major component of the opposition landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
During his US tour, he has continued to discuss the need for opposition parties to settle on a single presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto. Recent reporting has also highlighted tensions among opposition parties and competing political formations ahead of the election.
