Cleophas Malala Dismisses Claims Gachagua's US Tour Flopped: "He Opened 3 DCP Offices"

• DCP deputy leader Cleophas Malala dismissed critics who claimed Rigathi Gachagua’s two-month US tour had collapsed
• He said the former deputy president traversed nearly six American states, where he engaged Kenyans and presided over the launch of new DCP offices
• Malala explained why Gachagua returned earlier than planned, stressing the trip was not cut short due to failure
• He brushed aside allegations of ethnic bias during the engagements, pointing out other communities that Gachagua met, not only his Kikuyu supporters

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala has dismissed claims that former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s recent tour of the US was a failure.

During a live interview on TV47 on Monday, August 18, Malala defended Gachagua’s two-month trip, insisting that it achieved significant political milestones.

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Why did Gachagua end US trip?

Malala noted that contrary to claims by critics, Gachagua held successful engagements with Kenyans across several US states and oversaw the launch of three DCP offices abroad.

He stressed that Gachagua’s decision to return was not because the tour flopped, but because the party must now focus on mobilising support and coordinating campaign activities in Kenya.

"Our party leader left the country to go and engage our supporters in the diaspora. He was initially scheduled to stay for 60 days, but he decided to cut short the trip after the IEBC gazetted the by-election date," Malala explained.

How did Gachagua's trip set precedent?

Malala highlighted that Gachagua’s tour set a precedent for Kenyan politicians, saying few leaders have managed to engage citizens across multiple states in the US.

"It can be witnessed that Rigathi Gachagua is the only leader from Kenya who has gone to the US, engaged citizens in different states. We’ve seen even heads of states going to the US engaging one community or Kenyans from one state. But Gachagua has taken time to engage Kenyans across almost six states, and he has managed to open three DCP offices there," he said.

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According to Malala, the offices are a sign of the party’s long-term strategy to build global networks with the diaspora community, which he described as an integral in Kenya’s political and economic life.

He further claimed that the narrative of a flopped trip was being pushed by political opponents aligned with President William Ruto’s administration.

"That’s a narrative being perpetrated by our opponents and that is well understood because this government is a paranoid government. It is a government which does not believe that we would one day enjoy the benefits from such a leader who has come in to fill in the position of the opposition," he said.

Did Gachagua engage with all Kenyans in US?

During the interview, the DCP deputy leader also responded to claims that Gachagua only met members of his Kikuyu community while abroad.

Critics have suggested that his engagements were ethnic-based rather than national, with others pointing out that he constantly spoke in his native Kikuyu.

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Malala dismissed the narrative as misleading, arguing that Gachagua held meetings with diverse communities, including Abagusii and Luhya diaspora groups.

"Let me ask you, if you go to a state and you get members who come from Mt Kenya, are they not Kenyans? Are you trying to tell us today that Kikuyus are not Kenyans? But be it as it may, we have seen Gachagua engaging cousins. He had a meeting with the people of the Abagusi community in the US. He had a meeting with the people emanating from the tawe community. Why are you not addressing that?” Malala posed.

How will Gachagua be welcomed back to Kenya?

As earlier reported, the DCP leader urged supporters to gather at JKIA at 8am on Thursday, August 21.

From there, the party announced a peaceful procession would move through the Nairobi Central Business District to a rally at Kamukunji Grounds.

The party warned of alleged government efforts to divert Gachagua's flight to Mombasa or Kisumu airports for possible arrest, vowing resistance.

Source: TUKO.co.ke