Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at his deputy, Cleophas Malala, over the appointment of former UNCTAD Secretary General Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi as spokesperson and Head of Secretariat for the United Opposition.
Speaking during a church service in Kipipiri, Nyandarua County, on Sunday, September 7, Gachagua dismissed Malala’s concerns, saying that political leadership must strike a balance between youthful energy from Gen Zs and Millennials and seasoned experience.
According to the former deputy president, there were enough young leaders, but they need guidance, something Malala failed to understand.
And we made the decision to choose Mukisa Kitui to help us as the secretariat. Yet my deputy, Malala, who is a very able young man, had some worries about the appointment.
I heard him say that leadership should only include young people. But that is not wisdom. We have GenZ leaders and we know they will do well, but we must find someone with experience to guide them.
Also Read: Storm in Opposition as Malala Rejects Mukhisa Kituyi’s Appointment
Gachagua Advises Malala
Further, he explained that he had advised Malala to calm down about the appointments, adding that the youth required guidance.
I have spoken to Malala and advised him to calm down about this. Because even in the DCP Party, he has only appointed Millennials and Gen Zs as leaders.
Gachagua stressed that the DCP party has free and fair nomination of leaders.
“As the United Opposition, we have united and agreed that we will nominate one candidate to vie against President William Ruto,” he added.
The fallout between the two leaders emerged on September 5, just hours after coalition leaders unveiled plans to formalize the outfit ahead of the November by-elections and the 2027 General Election.
Malala dismissed the decision, insisting Kituyi lacked the vision and dynamism needed to represent the coalition. He further signaled his displeasure by skipping the Nairobi meeting.
“My position on the choice of the spokesperson is that the united opposition deserves to demonstrate willingness in engaging with fresh youthful leadership that can propel the country to the next frontier of politics and governance, qualities which Kituyi is acutely lacking,” he said.
At the same time, while coalition leaders had urged DCP and DAP-Kenya to back a single candidate to avoid splitting votes, Malala insisted DCP would field its own candidate.
Also Read: How the Opposition Can Defeat Ruto in 2027
The United Opposition
The coalition, co-led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, held a four-hour meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday, September 3.
Leaders agreed to launch an official name, symbol, and slogan on Monday, part of a broader strategy to rally supporters under one umbrella.
Kituyi’s appointment to lead communications through a newly created secretariat was seen as a move to improve coordination among member parties and give the opposition a unified voice.
It brings together six political parties under one umbrella.
The coalition is made up of the Democracy for the Citizens Party, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua; the Wiper Patriotic Front party, under Kalonzo Musyoka.
It also includes the People’s Liberation Party, led by Martha Karua; the Democratic Action Party–Kenya, headed by Eugene Wamalwa; the Democratic Party, under Justin Muturi; and the Jubilee Party, which is represented by its chairman, Torome Saitoti, with the backing of former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
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Please report accurately. I listened to his whole speech and there was nothing like blasting malala!!!! Pls do not mislead those who did not listen to the speech!!!!