Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that President William Ruto is planning to sponsor the formation of a new political party in Murang’a County as part of a broader strategy to divide the Mount Kenya vote ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County, on Friday, July 17, 2026, following the victory of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, Gachagua accused unnamed politicians from Murang’a County of being used by the president to fragment support in the region by unveiling a political party separate from DCP.

The DCP leader claimed that the politicians behind the planned outfit publicly portray themselves as critics of President Ruto while secretly working with him.

“William Ruto knows it, and we are aware he is already scheming. He intends to introduce different coloured wheelbarrows to accommodate his allies, who now know they cannot serve with the UDA in the upcoming by-election, but we are watching him. We are aware of a small wheelbarrow coming up in Muranga. We will announce it and shout about it when it is done.”

He further stated that the President intended to introduce what he termed as “different coloured wheelbarrows” to accommodate allies who, according to him, could no longer seek elective seats on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.

Future developments

Gachagua further told the nation that he and his party are closely monitoring the outfit, and once it’s ready for launch, he will tell Kenyans who the real owners of the party are.

He also added that President Ruto was planning to front multiple presidential candidates from the Mount Kenya region in an attempt to split the opposition vote ahead of the 2027 general election.

“We also know that he intends to introduce small presidential candidates in the mountains to divide the mountain vote. We shall call them out when he unleashes them,” Gachagua said.

DCP strategy

The former deputy president also outlined DCP’s national expansion strategy, saying the party was preparing to field candidates in all 47 counties for the positions of governor, senator, member of the National Assembly and member of the County Assembly.

He maintained that the credibility of DCP’s nominations was not a one-off event but a core principle that would guide the party as it prepares for the 2027 general election.