Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has laid bare plans by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to infiltrate the opposition-linked Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) ahead of the 2027 General Election. He revealed that UDA will back government-friendly candidates to run under the DCP banner in the Mt. Kenya region.
Speaking to the media at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on Tuesday, Cherargei, an outspoken ally of President William Ruto, said UDA plans to keep its political influence in Mt. Kenya despite growing support for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his DCP party.
“As a government, Mt. Kenya is a stronghold of UDA. We will not allow anybody or some individuals to masquerade. We are going to have our candidates in UDA and also in DCP, but they sing UDA at night,” Cherargei said.
The senator said the alleged strategy will focus on key contests, including the Kirinyaga gubernatorial race. He noted that succession politics have intensified ahead of the 2027 polls after Governor Anne Waiguru approached the end of her two constitutionally mandated terms.
Cherargei said UDA aims to ensure that leaders aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration win in the region.
“I was in Murang’a and here in Kirinyaga. We have some women leaders there, and we must ensure we win. We must have people who are friendly, and after the election, they will come home,” he stated.
Cherargei also launched a scathing attack on Gachagua, accusing the former deputy president of turning DCP into what he called a “highest auction house,” where party tickets allegedly go to the highest bidder.
“I want to warn all aspirants under DCP that it is the highest auction in the house. Some of us have intelligence that those who are funded will be given party tickets,” Cherargei claimed.
Cherargei further alleged that Gachagua’s recent tour of the United Kingdom, where he had reportedly hoped to raise billions for political mobilization, ended without success.
“He told us he was going to raise Ksh2 billion in London, but I am told he raised only Ksh2 million because Kenyans both locally and abroad know he is a political conman,” Cherargei alleged.
However, Gachagua’s allies defended the trip. They said it was cut short because of urgent political engagements in Kenya, including preparations for the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election and efforts to strengthen DCP structures across the country.
