Blow for Gachagua as Mbeere North DCP parliamentary candidate quits party
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 6, 2025Mbeere North Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Duncan Mbui has ditched the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua-led party and decided to go as an independent candidate.
In a statement shared by the candidate on his socials on Saturday, September 6, 2025, Mbui, who also doubles as the MCA for Evurore Ward and was seeking to replace Geoffrey Ruku, who left the seat vacant for a Public Service Cabinet Secretary slot, stated that his party, DCP, has decided to drop out of the race and leave it to their constituent party, DP Party.
He did not spare his now former party. While labelling it a members’ club within the United Opposition, he stated that his party has been influenced by constituent parties within the United Opposition not to field a candidate in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election and leave it to the Justin Muturi-led DP party, a decision which, according to him, is meant to kill his political ambition.
For this reason, the ward representative has decided to get to the polls alone on an independent ticket.
“I have been watching with a keen eye the goings-on at the DCP party and have come to the conclusion that the party is a members’ club within the so-called ‘United Opposition’,” he said.
“The club has been influenced to decide that DCP should not field a candidate in Mbeere North, which decision I view as a deliberate attempt to kill my ambition and that of the KivuiKivui fraternity. Arising from this, we have decided to go INDEPENDENT. We have always been independent and shall win as INDEPENDENT,“ Mbui stated.
IEBC’s directive
This comes days after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) issued fresh directives to guide independent candidates seeking to participate in the forthcoming by-elections slated for Thursday, November 27, 2025.
In a statement released by the commission on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, all aspirants intending to vie as independents must not have been members of any political party for at least three months before the election dates.
They are also required to present a clearance certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties confirming that they have not been affiliated with any political grouping within that period.
The commission has further directed that candidates submit the names and symbols they plan to use in the by-elections by September 17, 2025.