Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has criticised Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader and the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of turning the youth-driven ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign into a regional initiative centred on the Mt Kenya bloc.

Taking it to his X handle on Friday, March 27, 2026, Kuria has said that the ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign, which gained popularity among Gen Zs on TikTok, was initially viewed as a civic movement aimed at encouraging young Kenyans to take part in national conversations and initiatives to register as voters. He has said that its rapid spread online made it one of the most visible youth-led engagements.

“I followed my friend Riggy G with TikTokker MC Chris last evening on the Niko Kadi Gen Z campaign. Miraculously, he managed to convert the noble civic campaign into a Mt Kenya affair.

“As a parent of Gen Zs, this saddens me a lot. If he is the Niko Kadi champion, let us change the campaign to its Kikuyu translation ‘Ndi Na Mùtì’. Over to you, my friend Gen Z Baddie,” Kuria stated.

However, Kuria now argues that the campaign’s original intent is being diluted. He claims that Gachagua’s involvement, including public appearances alongside digital influencers, has shifted the initiative’s perception from a national youth movement to one closely associated with the Mt Kenya region.

According to Kuria, such a shift risks undermining the inclusivity that made the campaign resonate with young people across the country. He warned that branding civic efforts along regional lines could alienate other communities and weaken the broader message of youth unity and participation.

The criticism reflects a growing concern among sections of leaders and parents who feel that Gen Z-focused campaigns should remain free from political or ethnic undertones. Some have even sarcastically suggested renaming the campaign to reflect a single community, underscoring fears of exclusion.

Gachagua joins ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign

Kuria’s sentiments have come barely a day after the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, joined a group of youths in Nyeri town during the Niko Kadi campaign, Nyeri chapter.

The DCP leader, who was accompanied by his spouse, Reverend Dorcas Gachagua, and sons Keith and Kelvin Gachagua, painted Nyeri Town with DCP colours white and green as they marched to the Nyeri Town County Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices, where he verified his voter registration details and updated his biometrics.

After checking his details at the IEBC offices, Gachagua addressed the media on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He stated that the motive behind his action was to help Gen Zs finish the work they began in June 2024 during the protests, which were aimed at removing the current administration from power. He further urged youths to come out in large numbers and register as voters.

This comes at a time when the Niko Kadi campaign has gained momentum, with the initiator of the movement, Ademba Allans, saying that they aim to sensitize over 1,000 youths from each constituency to register as voters daily.