Rigathi Gachagua says DCP has not endorsed Edwin Sifuna for the opposition’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Gachagua says Cleophas Malala’s support for Edwin Sifuna reflects a personal preference, not DCP’s position on the opposition presidential ticket.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has rejected claims of a DCP Sifuna endorsement for the opposition’s 2027 presidential ticket. He said deputy party leader Cleophas Malala’s support for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna reflected his personal views.
Gachagua said only the Democracy for the Citizens Party leader or secretary-general could announce its official position. However, he maintained that Malala had every right to promote his preferred candidate.
Sifuna endorsement is not DCP policy
Gachagua drew a distinction between Malala’s role as deputy leader and authority to speak for the party. He said Malala could express political preferences, but those views did not amount to a formal party decision.
He also linked Malala’s remarks to political sentiment in Western Kenya, where some leaders have backed Sifuna as a possible contender. In Gachagua’s assessment, Malala was responding to what audiences in the region wanted to hear.
Nevertheless, Gachagua acknowledged that Malala’s advocacy extended beyond public remarks. He said the deputy party leader had personally approached him to seek support for the Nairobi senator and continued to lobby him.
Gachagua urges direct talks among contenders
Malala’s lobbying also involved Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, whom he wanted to win over to Sifuna’s side. Gachagua said there was nothing wrong with those efforts, describing persuasion as a legitimate part of political engagement.
However, he rejected the suggestion that he should persuade Kalonzo to back Sifuna. Instead, he said Sifuna should approach Kalonzo directly, while Kalonzo could similarly seek the senator’s support.
Gachagua encouraged leaders to make their cases to one another, with supporters free to lobby on their behalf. His clarification comes as opposition leaders work towards a common political platform ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The choice of a presidential flag bearer remains part of those discussions. For DCP, Gachagua’s position separates Malala’s ongoing campaign for Sifuna from any official commitment by the party.
