Gachagua Rebukes Close Ally, Says DCP Deputy Leader Is a ‘Mini-Version of Ruto’ 2027 Debate Heats Up

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reportedly reprimanded Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala over his recent remarks regarding the opposition’s 2027 presidential ambitions and the push to rally support behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

In remarks attributed to him, Gachagua distanced himself from Malala’s position, insisting that the former Kakamega senator does not speak for the party on the matter.

“Cleo Malala is not the spokesperson of the DCP Party. He is a mini-version of William Ruto. He has tried to persuade me to support Sifuna in 2027,” Gachagua reportedly said.

The remarks come amid growing debate within opposition circles over who should carry the coalition’s presidential ticket in the 2027 General Election.

The controversy follows Malala’s public declaration that DCP had agreed to support Sifuna as its preferred presidential candidate in the next election.

On October 25, 2026, Malala claimed that he and Gachagua had reached an understanding on Sifuna’s candidacy and that they intended to engage Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka to seek his support.

Malala’s remarks suggested that consultations were underway to build a broader opposition alliance around Sifuna. However, his statements attracted criticism from Wiper, whose spokesperson, Ndegwa Njiru, dismissed the claims about persuading Kalonzo to back Sifuna.

Gachagua’s reported criticism of Malala raises questions about the extent to which individual DCP leaders are authorised to communicate the party’s position on the opposition’s presidential candidate.

The disagreement also highlights the challenges facing opposition leaders as they explore possible alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

Although Gachagua recently met Sifuna and leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County, the meeting did not result in a publicly announced formal agreement naming a joint presidential candidate.

The latest developments come as several opposition figures position themselves for the 2027 presidential contest, with Sifuna, Kalonzo, Gachagua, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i among the leaders involved in discussions about the opposition’s future direction.

With the election approaching, questions about who speaks for individual parties and whether the opposition can agree on a common candidate are likely to remain central to political discussions.

Neither the reported criticism of Malala nor the question of DCP’s preferred presidential candidate should be treated as settled without further confirmation from the party leadership.

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