Malala Defends Gachagua’s US Trip

On Monday, August 18, DCP Secretary General Cleophas Malala defended Deputy Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua’s two-month US trip, insisting that it was a political success. He said contrary to critics’ claims that the trip flopped, Gachagua made tangible achievements, including opening three DCP diaspora offices and engaging Kenyans across six US states.

According to Malala, Gachagua’s decision to return earlier than planned had nothing to do with failure, but was prompted by the IEBC’s gazettement of an upcoming by-election, which required him to resume local campaign duties.

Setting a Political Precedent

Malala stressed that Gachagua’s tour set a political precedent, noting that no other Kenyan leader had managed to engage diaspora communities across so many different states. “We’ve seen even heads of state go to the US and only engage Kenyans from one state. But Gachagua took time to meet citizens across almost six states and still managed to launch three party offices,” Malala explained.

He said this marked a long-term strategy by the Democratic Change Party (DCP) to strengthen ties with the diaspora, describing the community as vital to Kenya’s political and economic landscape.

Diaspora Engagements Beyond Kikuyus

Critics had accused Gachagua of focusing exclusively on members of his Kikuyu community and conducting engagements in his native language. Malala dismissed this as a misleading narrative, insisting that Gachagua also met with Abagusii, Luhya, and other diaspora groups.

“Let me ask you, if you go to a state and you meet members of Mt. Kenya, are they not Kenyans? We must remember diaspora Kenyans represent diverse communities, and Gachagua engaged many beyond his own,” Malala argued.

Cutting Short the Tour

Explaining why Gachagua returned earlier than scheduled, Malala said it was a strategic move. “Our party leader initially planned to stay 60 days, but he cut short the trip after the IEBC gazetted the by-election date. The focus now shifts to mobilizing support locally,” he said.

He emphasized that Gachagua’s early return was not due to failure, but a tactical political decision.

Countering Critics and Political Opponents

Malala accused political rivals aligned to President William Ruto’s administration of deliberately pushing the “flopped trip” narrative to undermine Gachagua. “This government is paranoid. They know the kind of political influence Gachagua is building with the diaspora, and they fear what this means for the opposition’s strength,” Malala claimed.

He argued that Gachagua’s engagements abroad, combined with the new DCP offices, signal a larger political strategy that will redefine how Kenyan politicians interact with diaspora communities ahead of future elections.