NYERI, Kenya – Democratic for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua is now appealing to young Kenyans to join his new political outfit almost seven months after he fell out with President William Ruto.
Gachagua, who previously served as Kenya’s second deputy president, launched his new political outfit on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the party’s new headquarters along Musa Gitau Road in Lavington.
“I want to take this opportunity to ask all the Gen Zs that DCP is your home. If there is any party where the Gen Zs will find comfort, acceptance is DCP because Riggy G believes in young people,” said Gachagua.
Speaking on the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025, when he appeared on the Obinna TV Live Show, Gachagua rallied the young people to register as electors ahead of the 2027 polls.
“I have led by example by getting five of you to be in the party’s national executive council so that you know I am serious. I want you to come and help me craft a strategy to liberate this country and create good governance. So, we need to work together. I will allow you space and let you be,” Gachagua explained.
Why Rigathi Gachagua once took President William Ruto head-on
Gachagua, who donned the party’s official colours, narrated how he took the risk of confronting the president at the height of the Gen Zs’ protests after the head of state referred to the protesters as criminals.
“I urged the president, who was then my boss, to respect the young people because they were only agitating for what they felt was good for our country,” said Gachagua.
According to Gachagua, DCP is modelled in line with listening to the people.
“That is why our symbol is a listening ear. We are saying that Kenyans know what is good for this country, so just listen to them. Kenyans know how they want to be governed; just listen to them. Kenyans have solutions to all the problems that bedevil this nation; listen to them,” he added.
The former DP observed that Kenya has an abundance of human resources in terms of experts who, if given a chance, can sort out this country.
“These Gen Zs have the solutions to the problems of this country. So, our new administration, God willing that I lead, my strategy to sort out this country is to listen to the people of Kenya and allow them to tell us how they want to be governed and what needs to be done in every sector of the economy,” said Gachagua.
What Rigathi Gachagua plans to do should he is elected president
The former second in command said that should he form the next administration, he will have experienced people backed by fresh young people with new ideas and energy.
“That is why you find that in my party it is full of young people, because I believe in them. And I also want to mentor them by giving them a chance to lead. I have surrounded myself with young people for me to benefit from their youthfulness, from the freshness of their ideas, from their perspective, and their wide knowledge by interacting with their fellow people,” he explained.
Gachagua claimed that he was the luckiest leader in this country after what he said was surrounding himself with a group comprising young people buzzing with energy, knowledge, exposure, and ambition.
“I am already listening to them. The party unveiling function was organised by them. We let them be. This launch we are doing will be historic; it is these boys and girls who will do it. I have told them to do it, and they have accepted. I believe in them and trust in them,” he added.
Gachagua reiterated that the future of Kenya will be determined by the willingness of leaders to trust the young people and give them an opportunity to offer what they know and what they believe in.
“I am a great believer in working with young people. These young people—by working with them, you can’t go wrong because they have no tribe, they have no jealousy, they are not petty, they are outgoing, they are energetic, and they want to achieve great heights and surmount big challenges. My party and I are going places courtesy of these young people,” said Gachagua.
