Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has begun a two-day political tour of Nakuru County as his party intensifies grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua arrived in Nakuru on Friday, August 14, for a series of public engagements targeting several parts of the county. The tour will run through Saturday, August 15, as the DCP seeks to strengthen its political structures and expand its support base beyond its traditional strongholds.
The first day of the tour began in Naivasha, where Gachagua opened a new DCP party office before proceeding to engagements in Nakuru Town West and Nakuru Town East.
According to the itinerary released by the party, Gachagua is scheduled to address residents at Soko Mjinga in Nakuru Town West before moving to KANU House in Nakuru Town East.
The second day will take the former Deputy President to several other parts of the county, including Njoro, Elburgon, Turi, Molo, Kibunja and Rongai.
DCP targets grassroots structures
The Nakuru tour forms part of a wider two-week grassroots mobilisation programme launched by Gachagua and the DCP earlier this month.
The programme has already taken the former Deputy President through parts of Kiambu, Kajiado, Narok and Laikipia before his arrival in Nakuru. The tour is expected to conclude in Thika on Sunday, August 16.
DCP has framed the engagements as an opportunity to listen to residents and strengthen party structures at the grassroots ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s move into Nakuru is politically significant given the county’s position in the Rift Valley and its importance in Kenya’s presidential contests.
Gachagua’s visit also comes after a number of political aspirants and elected leaders from Nakuru and neighbouring counties joined the DCP.
On July 29, the former Deputy President received a delegation of MCAs from Nakuru and Laikipia counties into the party. He subsequently said defections from other parties showed growing support for the DCP.
Earlier this month, Gachagua also announced the entry of several Jubilee Party aspirants from Nakuru into DCP, including Nakuru gubernatorial aspirant Joel Maina Kairu.
Gachagua takes aim at Nakuru leadership
During Friday’s engagements, Gachagua turned his attention to Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, accusing her of abandoning the interests of county residents and aligning herself with President William Ruto’s administration.
He described the governor as a betrayal of Nakuru residents and made allegations concerning the control of county businesses and the ownership of War Memorial Hospital.
The allegations were made during a public rally and were not accompanied by evidence in the report.
Gachagua’s remarks come amid growing political competition in Nakuru as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political contest intensifies
The former Deputy President has increasingly positioned the DCP as a major opposition vehicle ahead of the next presidential election.
His Nakuru tour comes a day after he criticised President William Ruto over remarks concerning retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Speaking in Naivasha on Friday, Gachagua accused Ruto of using attacks on Uhuru to divert attention from his administration’s record and challenged the President to focus on his political competitors instead.
Gachagua has previously indicated that he intends to challenge Ruto in the 2027 presidential election, making his ongoing grassroots tours an important part of his efforts to build a national political network.
