Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has termed establishing a citizen-centered party as the driving force behind the formation of his new political outfit, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

Speaking during the party’s unveiling on Thursday, May 15, 2025, Gachagua asserted that the outfit will stay true to its founding ideals by listening to the Kenyan citizens.

The former DP further stated that his seven-month-long engagements with leaders, students, and citizens at his Wamunyoro residence provided the forum to adequately capture the citizens’ needs.

“Kenyans have told us to form an inclusive and listening government. We took the challenge to a course that many believe in and made a promise that in May 2025, I will unveil a party whose philosophy resonates with your needs. We finally have a party that belongs to us, where everybody is treated equally. Our new party is the Democracy Citizens Party (DCP),” he said.

The former deputy president pledged to embark on a grassroots tour to popularise the party and further collect the wishes of Kenyans that will be entrenched in the party manifesto.

“ I will spend the next two years traveling to every corner and village to listen to people and build one of the most formidable political movements since independence. After this, we will craft our manifesto based on your needs,” he revealed.

No direct tickets

During the event, Gachagua also warned that his new political outfit would not dish out direct nominations, as has been the case with other major political parties in the country.

“Let me clarify for the avoidance of doubt. This party has no favourite candidate. This party has no provision for direct nomination. This party believes in ‘let the people decide’,” Gachagua said.

“I have many leaders who have stood with me in very difficult times, who have walked with me in my journey. But I want to confirm, as close as they are to me, much as they have stood with me, none of them is entitled to a direct nomination. So I want to encourage everybody to be prepared to face each other in the party primaries,” he added.