Gachagua’s DCP Shakes Kenya’s Political Order as Mt Kenya Power Shifts Ahead of 2027

The rapid rise of Rigathi Gachagua’s Democratic Choice Party (DCP) is more than a polling surprise, it is a direct challenge to Kenya’s established political order and a warning shot to both State House and opposition heavyweights.

Polling at 6 percent and overtaking legacy parties such as Jubilee and Wiper, DCP’s ascent underscores a growing voter appetite for regional power brokers who can translate local grievances into national leverage.

That a newly formed party could outperform outfits backed by former presidents and long-time opposition leaders signals deep voter fatigue with traditional political brands.

At the heart of DCP’s momentum is Mt Kenya, a vote-rich region that has historically determined the outcome of presidential elections.

Gachagua’s fallout with President William Ruto appears to have repositioned him from insider to insurgent, a role that resonates strongly with a base that feels politically sidelined after delivering decisive support in 2022.

The data suggests that loyalty in Mt Kenya may be shifting from parties to personalities.

For President Ruto and the ruling UDA, DCP’s growth represents a strategic threat rather than an opposition sideshow.

Even a modest erosion of Mt Kenya support could complicate UDA’s re-election calculus in 2027.

Meanwhile, the decline of Jubilee and Wiper highlights the diminishing influence of once-dominant political vehicles that have failed to reinvent themselves or capture emerging voter frustrations.

Looking ahead, DCP’s rise could force new alliances, recalibrate campaign strategies, and reshape negotiations around power-sharing.

Whether the party can sustain its momentum beyond regional strength remains an open question, but one reality is already clear: Gachagua has reinserted himself into the national conversation, and Kenya’s political landscape is entering a period of realignment far earlier than many anticipated.