Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has expressed confidence in the ongoing party nomination exercise in Ol Kalou Constituency.

While speaking to the press on Saturday, May 9, 2026, Olekalou, the former senator, said that the manner and order in which the Rigathi Gachagua-led outfit is conducting its primaries have surpassed the standards used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) during general elections.

He added that, among all the political parties he has been involved in, DCP is the only one that has conducted its primaries with such high levels of decorum.

Malala further stated that before today’s exercise, the party held pre-nomination meetings, trained presiding officers and their deputies, as well as observers and clerks, and also held consultations with all candidates.

“Nimekuwa kwa vyama vingi; mara ya kwanza kuona chama kinaendesha uchaguzi hata kuliko IEBC. Tulifanya preparations zetu mapema tukawana pre-nomination za meeting. Baada ya hiyo tukakutana na candidates wote.“

The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader has also praised what he described as a strong voter turnout during the ongoing party’s primaries in Ol Kalou Constituency.

Malala said the turnout demonstrated strong local political engagement as he praised claims that residents had been influenced by former deputy president and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua to stay at home during the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s nomination exercise on Friday, May 8, 2026.

High voter turnout

He further suggested that even vulnerable groups, including elderly residents and expectant mothers, participated in the process, describing it as a sign of enthusiasm for internal party democracy.

“Ningependa kuwashukuru wakaazi wa Ol Kalou kwamba mlimsikiza kiongozi wenu Rigathi Gachagua jana. Gachagua alikuwa amewapea mwelekeo kwamba msijitokeze kwenda kupiga kura kwa ile nomination ya UDA. Ningependa kuwashukuru nmejitokeza kwa wingi. Jana hamkuenda kwa nominations za UDA,” Malala said.

“Leo mmejitokeza kwa wingi kabisa. Mimi naona hata wamama ambao ni wajawazito wamejitokeza; shosho wetu wamejitokeza, na hata wale ambao wamekunywa kitu kidogo bado wamejitokeza.”

According to Malala, voters were determined to make their voices heard through a direct ballot system at polling stations.

Attack on UDA nomination system

In his remarks, Malala also criticised the nomination system used by the UDA party, claiming that it lacked transparency compared to DCP’s voting process.

He claimed that UDA’s digital voting approach raised concerns among supporters and questioned its credibility, contrasting it with what he described as a more open paper ballot system used in DCP primaries.

Malala further accused the UDA of attempting to influence voter behaviour ahead of the nominations while insisting that DCP processes remained independent and transparent.