Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has distanced his party from calls by his deputy, Cleophas Malala, for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to carry the opposition's presidential flag in 2027, while threatening to lead thousands of supporters to the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over voter registration in border counties.

The former Deputy President made the remarks in a television interview with KTN at his Karen residence on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, covered by Capital FM, The Standard, The Star and Kenyans.co.ke.

"Malala is not the DCP spokesman"

Gachagua said Malala was free to hold political preferences but had no authority to declare the party's position, which he said can only be communicated by the party leader or the secretary-general.

"That is not the party position. That is his personal opinion and he is allowed, by the way," Gachagua said, adding that Malala had been trying to persuade him and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to back the senator.

He said Malala's views probably reflected the mood in Western Kenya, where Sifuna enjoys support, but insisted that Sifuna should make his own case to fellow principals. "I cannot persuade Kalonzo to support Sifuna," he said.

Gachagua also said he holds no grudge against Sifuna for his role in the October 2024 impeachment that removed him from office, saying the senator was then acting in the interests of ODM, which was in a rival camp.

Conditions for the flagbearer race

The DCP leader, who describes himself as the most suitable candidate for the united opposition ticket, said every principal seeking support must publicly commit to backing whoever is eventually chosen. He criticised leaders who stay silent when their supporters threaten to vote for President William Ruto if their preferred candidate loses out.

He said he and his supporters would back any candidate "unconditionally" if the formula agreed by the principals did not favour him.

Gachagua proposed that the opposition agree on its candidate quietly and unveil the choice no earlier than about five months before the August 10, 2027 General Election, claiming that an early announcement would expose the candidate to state pressure. He alleged that the government would deploy the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and hired youths against a declared candidate, a claim the government has not responded to.

Ultimatum to the IEBC

On the electoral commission, Gachagua demanded that the IEBC disclose how many voters have been registered in Wajir, Mandera and other border counties, and explain whether it has procured a firm to audit the voter register, an exercise he said should be finished by February.

"If they don't, we will repeat what used to happen. We will mobilise 10,000 people to go to IEBC and demand that these processes are well explained," he said, adding that supporters would also be asked to occupy constituency IEBC offices. He said he had agreed with Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to press the commission, although the two had not publicly commented on the plan.

The threat follows weeks of claims that some foreign nationals obtained Kenyan identity cards and registered as voters along the Kenya-Uganda border. In a September 27 statement, IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the commission had received no credible evidence of illegal registration and urged anyone with proof to submit it for investigation. The commission has not yet responded to Gachagua's latest demands.

Photos: Capital FM; Capital FM. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.