Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has appointed Nyandarua Senator John Methu as the new Secretary General of his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), marking a significant reshuffle in the young political movement’s leadership.
Speaking at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, May 25, Gachagua said Methu would immediately assume both organisational and communication duties for the party, replacing Hezron Obaga, a founding member of DCP.
“The media must know who to contact. Senator John Methu is a DCP party member, and he will start acting as the Secretary General designate and spokesperson from today,” Gachagua said.
He added that the appointment had been endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee and would later be formalised with the Registrar of Political Parties.
“In due course, his name will be forwarded for registration as the duly appointed Secretary General,” he said.
The changes come as DCP positions itself for its first major electoral test in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election scheduled for July 16. Gachagua said Methu would take charge of the campaign strategy in the constituency.
“He has been tasked, together with other leaders, to deliver a decisive victory in Ol Kalou,” Gachagua said.
He also directed Methu to lead recruitment efforts across the country, setting an ambitious target for party growth ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to Gachagua, DCP has already attracted significant interest since its formation in May 2025. He claimed the party has registered millions of supporters and thousands of prospective candidates, though those figures have not been independently verified.
“Thousands of aspirants have shown interest in flying the party’s flag in the next elections,” he said. “We want to assure all of them of free and fair nominations.”
The appointment, however, raises potential legal and political questions. Senator Methu was elected to Parliament on a ticket linked to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the ruling party. Kenya’s political party rules often require formal clearance when elected officials shift allegiance.
Gachagua acknowledged the possibility of legal challenges but said the party’s legal team was already reviewing the matter.
Methu, in accepting the role, drew parallels with past political realignments in Kenya, pointing to the 2022 election cycle when leaders shifted party positions during coalition reshuffles. He suggested the move was consistent with Kenya’s evolving political landscape.
The leadership change underscores Gachagua’s continued effort to build DCP into a structured national party as he distances himself from former allies in government. It also sets the stage for early political competition ahead of the 2027 elections, with parties already positioning themselves for influence at the constituency level.