Teso South MP faults Gachagua’s DCP, says Kenya must move past tribal politics
Teso South MP Mary Emase has sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s newly unveiled Democracy for the Citizens’ Party (DCP), warning that Kenya must reject divisive tribal politics and focus on unity and development.
Speaking during a church service in Teso North Constituency, Busia County, on May 18, 2025, Emase took a swipe at DCP, mockingly referring to it as the “District Commissioners’ Party” while questioning its “Skiza Wakenya” slogan.
“This other thing we are seeing — parties being formed — one being called the District Commissioners’ Party, or whatever it is, telling people to ‘listen to Kenyans’ — we are not about that,” Emase stated.
The legislator urged residents of Teso, a region split between ODM and UDA, to support the government’s broad-based coalition and reject what she described as political formations based on ethnic calculations or resource allocation along tribal lines.
“Do you, the people of Teso, want to be told about shares? Will you accept a politics of shares where if you have no ‘shares’ you don’t belong? Will you accept tribal politics? No. We are not about that,” she declared.
While rallying support for the Kenya Kwanza regime, Emase termed DCP as a distraction from the broader national agenda being fronted by President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
According to Emase, Ruto’s leadership offers a more inclusive and development-oriented vision for the country.
“Let’s push for development politics. Let’s support William Samoei Ruto and build Kenya. Let’s be part of the house from the start — let others come later and we’ll find them a seat in the corner. But we will be inside from the beginning,” she stated.
More pushback
Emase’s remarks echoed growing criticism of Gachagua’s new outfit from within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia dismissed DCP as a recycled movement of disgruntled ex-UDA members.
Speaking during an interview on K24 TV on Friday, May 16, 2025, Kururia said the party was not a threat to Ruto’s base, noting that many of DCP’s leaders, including Gachagua and Peter Mbae, were formerly in UDA.
“I must mention that Kenyans should not be worried. Our people — the supporters of William Ruto — are not shocked that there is DCP,” Kururia said.
“DCP is full of people who were in the same UDA — all of them including Mbae [Peter Mbae]. DCP from Rigathi and all his people, they were all in UDA. But because you’ve been chased away now Ruto is bad,” he added.
Gachagua unveiled DCP at a ceremony on May 15, 2025, at the party’s headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi.
The party’s branding includes neon green, brown, and white colours, with a slogan urging leaders to “Listen to Kenyans” and a logo depicting an ear cupped by fingers.
