A convoy of 14-seater matatus from the Kipsigis community has arrived at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Wamunyoro home for an engagement with the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader as he continues with his 45-day political consultations at his residence.

The fully packed caravan was seen snaking into the home of the DCP leader on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The locals are expected to engage with Gachagua as he seeks to solidify his base and create new partnerships ahead of the 2027 poll.

This comes days after a stellar performance in the Emurua Dikirr mini-poll, where his candidate, Vincent Rotich, despite the area being largely considered President William Ruto’s stronghold, garnered over 10,000 votes to finish second behind United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Keter.

DCP’s Emurua Dikir performance

The by-election was preceded by intense campaigns, with locals turning up in large numbers, donning DCP merchandise and proclaiming their support for the former Deputy President and his party, forcing the state to intensify its efforts in the county as the DCP party was seen as a threat.

“Congratulations to the DCP PARTY candidate in the Emurua Dikkir by-election, Hon. Vincent Rotich, for the splendid performance that has shaken South Rift politics, which for far too long, in fact for over 60 years, has been left behind in independent Kenya. A score of 10,760 votes is no mean feat,” Gachagua said.

This saw Siaya Governor James Orengo applaud the DCP party, saying that if a party that is hardly a year old could post such results in President Ruto’s backyard, it showed that the support the president once enjoyed was slowly dwindling, making the “Wantam” dream a reality.

After the by-election, the former deputy president thanked the locals, saying that he would plan to visit the area and greet them for their support, adding that it showed the South Rift region was firmly behind the DCP party.

The DCP leader has also unveiled a wide range of goodwill gestures for the Kipsigis community in a bid to woo them and neutralise President Ruto’s influence in the region.

He has pledged to help Angata Barikoi residents, who have long struggled with land injustices, revealing that he had assembled a battery of lawyers to assist them in litigating the matter and reclaiming their land.

Gachagua’s Rift Valley plan

Gachagua has also announced plans to intensify his presence in the South Rift region, saying that he intends to split the Rift Valley vote 50-50 with President William Ruto. He argued that even residents in the president’s political backyard are dissatisfied with his administration and want him to be a one-term president.

Gachagua has also maintained in the past that, despite the differences with President William Ruto that led to his impeachment, it was the president who had an issue with him and not the people of his political backyard.