EMBU, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arrived in Embu County on Saturday ahead of a major Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) rally, as the opposition outfit stepped up grassroots mobilisation across the Mt Kenya region in preparation for the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua was received in Embu by Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji, local leaders and supporters ahead of a series of public engagements that will see him traverse different parts of the county.
The visit forms part of the DCP’s “Meet the People Tour”, which seeks to strengthen the party’s presence across Mt Kenya and popularise its agenda ahead of the next general election.
Earlier this week, Mukunji confirmed Gachagua’s visit and unveiled the day’s itinerary, saying the tour would also feature the official opening of the party’s county offices in Embu Town.
“We are set for the great day. It will be marked with the official opening of DCP County offices in Embu Town. See you there. Karibu Embu, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH,” Mukunji said.
According to the programme, Gachagua is scheduled to begin his engagements at Gategi Market before proceeding to officially open the DCP county offices in Embu Town. He will later address residents at Kathangariri, Karurumo and Siakago as part of the day-long political tour.
The rally is expected to draw party supporters, grassroots leaders and residents from Embu and neighbouring counties as DCP continues to expand its support base in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
Since launching the Democracy for the Citizens Party, Gachagua has embarked on a series of political tours across the country, using public rallies to promote the party’s agenda and rally support for what he describes as a people-centred political movement.
Saturday’s visit comes amid heightened political activity across the country, with both the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and opposition leaders intensifying public engagements and grassroots campaigns well ahead of the official campaign period for the 2027 elections.
Gachagua is expected to outline the party’s vision for the country, address national governance and economic issues, and explain DCP’s strategy ahead of the next General Election. Local leaders are also expected to articulate development priorities for Embu County.
The former Deputy President’s tour also comes against the backdrop of an emerging political debate over the future of the Mt Kenya voting bloc following recent remarks by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku suggesting that Mt Kenya East should chart an independent political path separate from Mt Kenya West.
The remarks have attracted criticism from opposition leaders and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, with critics arguing that such proposals could weaken the region’s political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Gachagua has consistently called for political unity across the Mt Kenya region, maintaining that the region should negotiate national political arrangements from a position of cohesion.
His Embu visit follows a political rally in Nyahururu a day earlier and comes after DCP’s victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, a result that the party has cited as evidence of its growing influence as it seeks to challenge the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in 2027.