Jitters are emerging in Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party as allies tear into the outfit’s deputy party leader Cleophas Malala.
The latest to
charge at Malala is Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, who has sensationally
accused Malala of extortion and tainting the party’s image.
Murango told
Kikuyu station Inooro TV that there are moles in the party who are out to
sabotage the opposition outfit.
He said he
personally does not get along with Malala, just as “80 per cent of other DCP
leaders”.
“Malala can do
anything for the money. You can’t tell me you are in the party and your work is
to go out collecting money, soiling the party’s name,” Murango said.
“That’s the
truth. And I have told our boss [Gachagua] that this guy will come to mess
things up.”
Murango added
that while Gachagua had already locked Mt Kenya region, Malala has abandoned
his home ground.
“In Western
Kenya, where he should be helping us, he left people there to be doing whatever
they want. He doesn’t speak there,” he said.
“I don’t know
his relationship with the party leader but for me, we don’t get along.”
The Kirinyaga
senator said the recent party changes were effected to contain Malala, saying
he had made himself the party secretary general.
“He is going
around taking money from the betrayers who are now working with the government,
promising to hand them tickets,” Murango said.
Malala did not
respond to messages and calls seeking his right of reply.
In March,
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina publicly accused Malala of secretly
working with political rivals to undermine Gachagua.
She claimed
Malala held a late-night meeting with Kirinyaga MCAs in Kenol to form a
splinter faction.
The MP, a
close ally of Gacahagua, also alleged that Malala funded the attending MCAs,
who are aligned with Governor Anne Waiguru to oppose Gachagua’s political foot
soldiers.
She claimed
these funds came from individuals seeking to derail the political agenda of
their movement.
Last week,
Malala was forced to clarify media reports that he had fallen out with
Gachagua.
Speaking in
Ikolomani on Saturday,
Malala said they remain united within the DCP leadership despite rising
speculation in political circles.
He added that
reports of a disagreement between him and Gachagua were part of a propaganda
campaign meant to divide the opposition.
“This Ruto
government knows it is going home, and today it
has sponsored propaganda that Rigathi Gachagua and I have a falling out,” he
said.
“I want to
tell the people who have spread that rumour that Rigathi Gachagua and I are
together. They want to spread rumours to divide us so that the United
Opposition does not defeat the government.”
However, Patrick
Butichi, who is eyeing the Kakamega senator job, has also claimed that there
are plans to chase Malala out of DCP.
“Just like he
was removed from UDA, there are plans to push Malala out of DCP. But that won’t
harm. He should come back home and work with Senator Edwin Sifuna in Linda
Mwananchi,” he said.
While DCP has
enjoyed widespread acceptance, it has also suffered high-profile exits,
with key figures defecting back to pro-government camps, citing unfair
nomination processes.
These include
Ruiru MP George Koimburi, Githunguri’s Gathoni Wamuchomba and Ol Kalou DCP
nominations runner-up Paul Waiganjo.
