Gachagua dismisses Mbeere North loss, says focus is on building DCP
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 30, 2025Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed criticism over the Mbeere North by-election, insisting that his Democratic Congress Party (DCP) is performing strongly in other parts of the country.
Speaking during a thanksgiving event in Kariobangi North on Sunday, November 30, 2025, Gachagua defended his political standing and dismissed claims that the result in Embu signalled his weakening influence in the Mt Kenya region.
His remarks came a day after Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Mbeere North MP-elect Leonard Muriuki wa Muthende told him to leave active politics.
Also watch: Gachagua hails DCP victories in latest ward by-polls
The leaders argued that the outcome of the tightly contested by-election had cemented Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as the new power centre in the region.
Ruku did not hold back in his message. During a visit to a UDA mobiliser injured in the by-election, he told Gachagua to return home and abandon politics.
He argued that voters had rejected what he described as divisive politics and were leaning towards leaders pushing development.
The UDA candidate, Wamuthende, won with 15,802 votes against Democratic Party candidate Newton Kariuki Ndwiga, who polled 15,308.
But Gachagua pushed back on Sunday, accusing his critics of exaggerating the Mbeere North outcome while ignoring DCP victories elsewhere. He said his party had made significant inroads in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
“Mimi niseme watu ya Kariobangi asanteni sana. DCP is the party for Nairobi. Na hii ndio chanzo ya siasa yetu hapa Nairobi. Na sisi tumepangana vizuri na kiongozi wa Wiper, ambaye ndiye amekuwa akisaidia ODM hapa Nairobi,” he told supporters.
Also watch: Njiru signals legal showdown over disputed Mbeere North mini-poll
DCP–Wiper Nairobi deal
He went on to explain the agreement between DCP and Wiper for the 2027 race in Nairobi.
“Tumekubaliana kiti cha governor kitachukuliwa na DCP. Kiti cha Senator kitachukuliwa na DCP. Kiti cha women rep kitachukuliwa na DCP. Tumekubaliana na Wiper kati ya viti kumi na saba, kati ya DCP na Wiper, tutachukua viti kumi na sita. Na kati ya viti themanini na tano, between DCP and Wiper, tutachukua 75.”
Gachagua also told his supporters not to worry about the Mbeere North result.
“Na msijali maneno ya Mbeere, DCP haikuwa na candidate Mbeere. DCP ilikuwa na candidate Kariobangi North, tukashinda, Narok town tukashinda, Kisa East tukashinda, Purko tukashindwa kidogo na Magarini. Chama ambaye ni ya mwezi saba imechukua viti tatu out of five,” he said.
He added that he had only travelled to Mbeere to support the Democratic Party candidate, who he claimed had been denied victory. But he insisted that his main focus remained the expansion of DCP.
“Lakini sisi we focus on our party, DCP. Na hapa Nairobi nataka DCP ishinde. Hapa Kariobangi tulishinda UDA walikuwa namba 4, Narok tulishinda UDA, Kisa East tulishinda UDA na ODM. Hiyo hawaongei.”
On that Sunday, November 30, 2025, violence also erupted in Kariobangi North as rival groups clashed before and during the Thanksgiving ceremony for newly elected MCA David Wanyoike Warui. Gachagua accused the government of attempting to disrupt his meeting through intimidation.
“Every time you plan to disrupt our meetings and beat up people, you are losing further, and this community hatred towards you grows. If you think you can make these people embrace you through intimidation and violence, you are misguided,” he said.