NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed reports of a fallout between him and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy leader Cleophas Malala, insisting the former Kakamega senator remains firmly part of the party’s leadership.
Speaking during a political engagement on Sunday, Gachagua said Malala’s absence from recent party activities was due to illness and not internal disagreements, as has been widely speculated.
“Cleophas Malala is a bold leader and a man of principle,” Gachagua said. “He was in Kakamega for the Malala Super Cup, after which he fell seriously ill and asked for permission to rest for a while before resuming party duties.”
Gachagua accused allies of President William Ruto of deliberately spreading misinformation to portray DCP as divided, saying the claims were part of a broader political scheme to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“These are people whose work has now been reduced to spreading rumours,” he said. “They want to create the impression that DCP is unstable, but that is not the case.”
Claims of Infiltration
The former Deputy President further claimed that individuals loyal to President Ruto had infiltrated DCP, adding that the party leadership had long been aware of their presence.
“There were people within my party who were Ruto’s spies. We knew them, and it was only a matter of time before they exposed themselves,” Gachagua said.
He said the party has since embarked on what he described as an internal clean-up to remove individuals he considers disloyal, while maintaining that DCP remains intact.
“DCP is stable. No one is leaving. We know who belongs with us and who does not,” he said.
Gachagua added that the party would intensify efforts this year to eliminate what he termed as external influence within its ranks.
“This is the year to remove all those who were sent to undermine us. That process has already started,” he said.
Speculation Over Malala’s Loyalty
In recent weeks, speculation has mounted that Malala, the interim deputy party leader of DCP, had quietly defected back to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The speculation stemmed from his prolonged silence and failure to accompany Gachagua during recent political rallies, a departure from the past when the two leaders were frequently seen together on the campaign trail.
However, Gachagua dismissed the claims as politically motivated and misleading.
Malala has previously been credited with strengthening DCP’s national profile, including leading the party to victory in the Kisia East Ward by-election, where DCP candidate Dickson Aduda defeated a rival from the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K).
The win was seen as significant for the party, helping counter perceptions that DCP draws support only from the Mount Kenya region.
As the 2027 elections approach, DCP has positioned itself as an opposition force seeking to expand its footprint beyond its traditional support base, amid heightened political realignments across the country.
