Rigathi Gachagua Makes Political Comeback with DCP Aspirants in Banisa and Malava By-Elections

In a stunning political come-back, Rigathi Gachagua the former Deputy President of Kenya who was impeached in October 2024 has made a re-entry onto the national stage in a stunning gesture that indicates his willingness to earn influence ahead of the 2027 General Election. With his newly established Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua has showcased two candidates: Aden Mohamed in Banisa Constituency and Edgar Busiega in Malava Constituency, to contest upcoming by-elections.

These by-elections, called for after the deaths of incumbent MPs Kulow Maalim Hassan (Banisa) and Moses Injendi (Malava), are proving to be more than mere local polls they are becoming trial grounds for Kenya’s new political dynamics, with Gachagua becoming a new force between the governing coalition of President William Ruto and opposition led by Raila Odinga.

Rigathi Gachagua’s return to politics is just a few months shy of one year since his spectacular impeachment in October 2024, which caused a national shockwave. His removal, reportedly connected to corruption claims, backroom maneuvers within the Kenya Kwanza alliance, and public discontentment with administration, was a free fall from favor.

But where there are free wheeling politics in Kenya, comebacks are possible. Gachagua’s rebranding in the Democracy for the Citizens Party also appears to be a deliberate move to appeal to common voters in rural and youth-heavy constituencies by departing from mainstream elite politics and tuning into rising indignation against the current political class.

Aden Mohamed, Banisa hopeful in DCP, is a well-known community organizer and former NGO coordinator in Mandera County. His nomination is seen as a move to secure support in Kenya’s northeastern counties, which have hitherto felt politically disenfranchised.

In Malava, Edgar Busiega formerly a youthful university student leader represents Gachagua’s move to rally disillusioned peri-urban and urban youth, a constituency increasingly loud on the nation’s anti-government protests.

These rivals place DCP’s broader agenda on the table: presenting a populist alternative to both the governing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the traditional Azimio la Umoja.

Although these are regional by-elections, political watchers are paying close attention. The Banisa and Malava elections, Al Jazeera says, could be an early indicator of voter mood as they prepare for 2027, particularly against the backdrop:

Youth protests over unemployment, inflation, and graft
Disillusion with mainstream political parties
Ethnic and regional realignments post-2024

DCP’s decision to contest in both seats indicates a wish to become national, and not merely be a protest party. If the party performs well or even captures votes on the campaign trail it has the potential to derail the expected Ruto vs. Raila dichotomy in 2027.

President William Ruto, who assumed power on a populist vow to “hustlers,” is increasingly pilloried now on economic policy, taxes, and supposed callousness to popular grievance. The by-elections offer Gachagua the opportunity to capitalize on that anger and present DCP as a “true hustler” alternative surprisingly flipping Ruto’s own 2022 election slogan back at him.

At the same time, Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja alliance has failed to provide a cohesive alternative, with recent splits and uncertainty regarding his potential candidacy in 2027. Such a void has left space for fresh faces like Gachagua to provide a third force if he can mobilize disillusioned youths and marginal areas.

The timing of Gachagua’s return is coinciding with a wave of youth-led protests, most of which have turned violent. Sparked by complaints as varied as the disputed Finance Bill, police brutality, and unemployment, the movements have shake Kenya’s political elite and forced a reckoning with the country’s youth majority.

While Gachagua himself was previously a part of the establishment, his anti-corruption rhetoric, vow of “citizen-first leadership,” and grassroots-level branding of DCP might appeal to segments of this burgeoning protest movement if he can successfully distance himself from his previous actions.

Later this year, the Malava and Banisa by-elections will be held, with official dates to be announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Campaigning is already in progress, and keen interest is being watched to ascertain how DCP’s entry will affect the power structures in the two constituencies.

If the Democracy for the Citizens Party manages to get even modest gains, it will validate Gachagua’s political return and force a rethink of coalition politics before 2027. Otherwise, that may signify that Kenyan voters remain cautious about reused leadership, regardless of how it is rebranded.

Whether as a redemption or an opportunistic comeback, Rigathi Gachagua’s political comeback can’t be ignored. While Kenya hurtles towards yet another defining cycle of elections, new parties, new voices, and restless youth may redraw the playing field in surprising manners.

The question now is: Will DCP convert momentum into electoral muscle or is this yet another fleeting lapse in Kenya’s revolving door politics?