NewzNAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 — Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to have UDA leaders allied to him resign and seek fresh mandates before urging other parties to dissolve and join his DCP outfit. Muturi issued the challenge in a joint statement with Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya and Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) leader Lenny Kivuti, as the three leaders rejected Gachagua’s call for their parties to dissolve and join the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). The leaders argued that it was contradictory for Gachagua to urge established political parties to wind up their operations while at the same time hosting elected United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders and senior government officials at his residence.
“If he genuinely believes in political realignment based on principle and the sovereign will of the people, then he should encourage those elected on UDA tickets to resign and seek fresh mandates through by-elections,” the statement said. They maintained that democracy is strengthened through the ballot rather than negotiated defections or political convenience, insisting that the same standard should apply to all political actors. The three leaders also rejected Gachagua’s appeal for DP, PNU and DEP to dissolve and fold into DCP, saying each party is an independent institution whose future can only be determined by its lawful organs in accordance with the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.
Muturi-led Mt Kenya alliance declines to fold parties While affirming their commitment to working with like-minded parties to offer an alternative to the Kenya Kwanza administration, they said political cooperation must be anchored on consultation, mutual respect and voluntary partnership rather than coercion or ultimatums. The leaders further cautioned against attempts to monopolise the Mt Kenya political space, saying communities should remain free to choose their preferred political parties without intimidation. “It can’t be one is okay joining DCP but bad if they join our parties.
One people, one agenda—prosperity,” the statement noted. NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 — A rift has emerged within the Mt Kenya opposition after Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, PNU’s Peter Munya and DEP’s Lenny Kivuti rejected former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s call to dissolve their parties and fold into the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the leaders said Gachagua had neither the legal nor moral authority to determine the future of other political parties, describing his remarks as offensive to party members, delegates and officials who had invested in building their respective political formations.
The statement follows remarks attributed to Gachagua at a church event in Meru on July 26, where he urged the Democratic Party, PNU, Umoja na Maendeleo Party and BUS Party (DEP) to dissolve and join DCP. The leaders maintained that any decision to merge, dissolve or reconstitute a political party can only be made by the lawful organs of that party in accordance with its constitution and the Political Parties Act. They further cited Article 38 of the Constitution, saying every Kenyan has the right to make political choices, including joining and participating in a political party of their choice.
“These political rights are both constitutional and statutory and cannot be diminished by the personal ambitions or preferences of any individual,” the statement said. While reaffirming their commitment to working with like-minded parties to provide alternative leadership to the Kenya Kwanza administration, the leaders stressed that any political cooperation must be founded on consultation, equality and mutual respect rather than coercion or political ultimatums. The trio also accused Gachagua of applying double standards by calling for the dissolution of established parties while simultaneously engaging elected United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders and senior government officials.
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