Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has unequivocally stated that he is in the Rigathi Gachagua-led party to stay.

Speaking at the Coast during a DCP party retreat on Monday, January 20, 2025, Malala dismissed speculations that he had ditched the party and rejoined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), from which he was unceremoniously chased out at a time when the former Deputy President was also staring at a possible ouster in 2024.

The outspoken former senator came out to break his silence, labelling the DCP party, which was unveiled by him and Gachagua last year in May, as his baby, saying he cannot abandon it. He further told those propagating rumours of his exit from the Gachagua-led party that he is in the party to stay.

“How can I abandon my own baby? I am in DCP to stay. Those people propagating lies and disinformation that I have left the DCP party for UDA, I want to tell them categorically that I am here to stay,” Malala said.

This comes a day after he came out publicly following days of being absent from the public eye.

The former deputy president had earlier defended Malala’s silence amid growing speculations of a change in stance, stating that Malala was under the weather following his annual tournament held at the tail end of the year, dubbed the Malala Super Cup. He added that Malala would report back to party duties on Monday, January 19, 2025.

Malala breaking the silence

True to his word, Malala on the said day popped up in the company of his party leader, Gachagua, to end the three-day retreat at the Coast that Gachagua was gracing.

The former DP later took to his social media pages, stating that he had tasked his deputy, Malala, to help implement the outcomes of the three-day DCP retreat that he had held with 21 members of parliament allied to him on behalf of the party.

Malala also, through his social media pages, shared his maiden message since his absence from the public eye, which had fuelled speculations of a fallout with Gachagua.

“Homa imeisha. Dr Wamunyoro’s Brufen is magic. We are now back to work. Focused more than ever before,” Malala posted.

Koimburi’s DCP defection

This comes at a time when there is an unsustainable haemorrhage from the DCP camp, with the latest being Juja MP George Koimburi, who exited the party weeks ago.

Koimburi accused his former political ally of being duped with promises of a direct ticket, only for the party leader to later be spotted endorsing his opponent, Aloise Kinyanjui, in the Kimbo area.