Opinion: Back to Back Defections from DCP A Sign That Gachagua Is Not Fit to Lead

Political defections are rarely accidental. They are often a clear signal of leadership failure, unresolved internal grievances, and loss of confidence at the top. The growing exits and withdrawals from the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) are increasingly pointing to one uncomfortable conclusion: Rigathi Gachagua is struggling to provide steady, inclusive leadership.

Kenya has seen this script before. In the lead-up to the 2022 General Election, Jubilee Party ignored early warnings when loyal supporters quietly defected to UDA. Party leaders dismissed the defections as insignificant, choosing denial over reform. The result was a slow but fatal collapse that left Jubilee politically irrelevant. DCP now appears to be walking the same dangerous path.

The latest red flag is the decision by Murang’a County DCP gubernatorial candidate Hon. Jamleck Kamau to take a break from active politics. Jamleck was not just another aspirant. He was the party’s sole gubernatorial candidate in Murang’a, a key financier, and a grassroots mobiliser who invested time, money, and personal risk to build the party’s structures.

His withdrawal comes amid growing reports of dissatisfaction within DCP, particularly around leadership style and the monetisation of party tickets. While Jamleck’s statement was measured, the timing speaks volumes. Leaders do not walk away from parties they believe in unless something fundamental has gone wrong.

Jamleck is widely regarded as a principled politician, not one easily swayed by convenience or inducements. His decision therefore reinforces claims that DCP is losing committed leaders due to internal practices that prioritise money over merit and loyalty.

For Rigathi Gachagua, these defections are not betrayals—they are warnings. Leadership is about building trust, fairness, and unity. When loyal supporters start leaving quietly, it is not them who have failed the party; it is the leadership that has failed them.

Ignoring these signs will only accelerate DCP’s decline. History has already shown how this story ends.