Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unveiled a major shake-up within the leadership of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), appointing John Methu as the party’s secretary general designate ahead of the crucial 2027 political battle.
Speaking during a press briefing at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, Gachagua announced that the outspoken Nyandarua Senator would immediately assume the role of party spokesperson as he awaits formal approval by the Registrar of Political Parties.
The appointment signals a significant political realignment within the opposition outfit as Gachagua moves to strengthen the party’s grassroots mobilisation machinery amid growing competition for influence in the Mt Kenya region.
“Senator John Methu, for all practical purposes, is a member of DCP, and he will start acting from today as the secretary general designate and be the spokesman of the DCP party on all matters starting today,” Gachagua declared.
“In due course, in the fullness of time, his name will be forwarded to the Registrar of Political Parties so that he is registered as a duly appointed Secretary General of DCP,” he added.
Methu replaces Hezron Obaga in the influential role at a time when DCP is seeking to position itself as a formidable political force ahead of the next General Election.
In what appeared to be an immediate test of Methu’s political influence, Gachagua revealed that the party’s National Executive Council had tasked him with spearheading DCP’s campaign strategy in the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for July 16.
“The National Executive Council has given Senator John Methu, the secretary general designate, his first assignment: that he, together with other leaders, take charge of the by-elections in Ol Kalou and deliver a decisive victory to the DCP party,” Gachagua said.
The former Deputy President expressed confidence in the party’s rapid expansion, claiming that thousands of aspirants had already shown interest in contesting various elective positions on a DCP ticket in 2027.
He further sought to reassure party hopefuls over concerns about internal democracy, promising transparent nominations.
“We want to assure our aspirants who have indicated interest that the party will hold free and fair nominations,” he stated.
The announcement also saw several new faces unveiled within the party hierarchy as DCP intensifies efforts to broaden its national appeal.
Lawyer Edgar Busiega from Kakamega County was appointed Secretary for Information and Technology, while Leonard Cheruyoit from Narok County took over the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries docket.
Meanwhile, Abdi Noor Mohamed from Wajir County was named Chairperson of the County Coordinating Committee, with Wilson Kanyago Ndung’u from Nairobi appointed Chairperson of the Students’ Caucus.
The changes come as the battle for the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat gathers momentum following the death of former MP David Njuguna Kiaraho.
Former MCA Sammy Ngotho recently secured the DCP ticket after a hotly contested party primary in which he garnered 12,957 votes against rival Paul Waiganjo’s 4,978 votes.
Ngotho, who vied for the seat under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner during the 2022 General Election, previously lost to the late Kiaraho and is now seeking a political comeback under Gachagua’s camp.
Political analysts are now closely watching whether Gachagua’s latest appointments will strengthen DCP’s foothold in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region as succession politics ahead of 2027 continue to intensify.
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