NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has cautioned politicians against over-reliance on social media or private meetings to gain political power, insisting that Kenya’s presidency is built through grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking on Friday during the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) presentation of candidates ahead of the November 27 by-elections, Gachagua stressed that leadership is earned by consistently engaging citizens face-to-face rather than relying on online campaigns.
“Getting elected as President is about political mobilisation,” he said. “I am a very experienced politician who has delivered two Presidents for this country, and I know how to make one. There is no President you will make in a boardroom.”
The former DP argued that voters remember leaders who interact with them meaningfully, not those who depend on digital impressions.
He dismissed what he described as the “illusion” that posting images of politicians online could secure the presidency.
“You know, I see people talking a lot, as if by just posting someone’s picture on social media they can become President. They’re even saying ‘the sixth.’ That cannot make you president,” he remarked. “The relevance of online space is only to inform people where you are on the ground.”
Gachagua urged DCP aspirants to embrace the party’s slogan “Skiza Wakenya” (Listen to Kenyans), reminding them that success in politics comes from listening to and mobilising ordinary citizens.
“Presidents are made in the field. You must go, mobilise numbers, and inspire people. You must have content, and people must remember what you say even a month later. That is how you become president,” he added.
His comments come as social media platforms continue to play an increasing role in political messaging, campaign branding and mobilisation.
But according to Gachagua, digital presence cannot replace the trust and loyalty cultivated through grassroots networks.
“The only way you get elected is on the ground. There is no other formula,” he reiterated.
Kenya is set to hold several by-elections on November 27, 2025, and Gachagua’s remarks were widely seen as both a lesson to DCP candidates and a veiled swipe at political rivals banking on online campaigns to build momentum.
