Gachagua cuts US tour short to focus on November by-elections

DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua with his spouse, Dorcas during their tour in the US. [Rigathi Gachagua, Facebook]

Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has ended his two-month US tour early to lead his party’s campaigns for the November 27 by-elections.

Gachagua began the trip on July 10 in Seattle, describing it as “successful and fulfilling” after meeting Kenyans in the diaspora.

He expressed regret over cancelling planned visits to other states in the US, promising to reschedule them for early next year.

“I am sorry to cut my trip short. My profound apologies to the organisers and Kenyans whom I was to meet. The same has been rescheduled for early next year,” he wrote in a post on X.

During the tour, Gachagua criticised President William Ruto’s administration as “autocratic” and urged US President Donald Trump to intervene.

He also thanked diaspora communities for their hospitality.

Gachagua opened three DCP offices in the US: the first on July 14 in Seattle, a second on July 21 in Boston, and the Midwest office on August 6 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The by-elections will test DCP’s grassroots spread ahead of the 2027 General Election. Contests are set for 22 seats, including six parliamentary, 15 county assembly, and the Baringo Senate seat.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set September 17 as the deadline for party submissions, while campaigns will run from October 8 to November 24, and parties must submit election agents’ names by November 11.

MCA races will be held in wards across Samburu, Nandi, Tana River, Garissa, Nairobi, Kakamega, Elgeyo Marakwet, Machakos, Narok, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Turkana, and Bungoma.

National Assembly contests are set for Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbeere North, and Ugunja.