In May last year, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) launched its Nakuru chapter, signalling its serious political intentions. This in itself ushered in a new political shift in the county.

Many aligned themselves with the new party, but after the 2022 general elections, some felt they had been left out of the political process. DCP offered these people a new home.

Those already in government who felt aggrieved by the current regime also found a new home. Most importantly, individuals aspiring to various elective positions declared their political interest under the new banner.

Given that Nakuru is known as the political capital of the country, the launch of the party came at an important time in the political landscape, just a few months after the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.

At the time, we interviewed Tom Evali, a Nakuru resident, who said that the launch could not have come at a better time.

"There are currently political tensions because Rigathi Gachagua's supporters feel aggrieved and betrayed. Now they have this party to associate with him, which of course impacts the political landscape," he said.

Fast forward seven months and those keenly following party politics will know that in-house squabbles rocked the party in June and September, prompting much discussion among the political elite.

Most cited this as a sign that it was a failed political outfit unable to assert dominance in the voter-rich county. Coupled with the fact that the party leader had never held a formal meeting with supporters in the county to reaffirm their beliefs, this spelled doom for much of the year.

However, when we spoke to Calvin Muga, the Midrift Hurinet programmes officer, he told us that this is normal for an organisation or start-up that is still establishing itself.

“When the party first set up its base in Nakuru, there were a lot of disputes among the members and leadership. But I think all is well within their ranks at the moment. Squabbles are to be expected with any startup,” he says.

He also notes that we cannot ignore Nakuru's importance on the political stage and mentions the Mount Kenya factor that has always been associated with Nakuru and the party.

"Nakuru is in the Rift Valley; however, it has always been known as a "mountain voting block" because there has always been a tendency for it to vote in the same way as the central regions," he says.

Laban Omusundi agrees with Mr Calvin that, as this is their first year, the disputes were to be expected; however, it is what happens in the run-up to the 2026 election that will determine the state of the party in Nakuru.

"With 2026 approaching, the countdown to the election begins and all eyes will be on them. Now that they have a structure, it is important for them to organise themselves accordingly if they are to compete effectively with the government of the day," he says.

He also notes that Gachagua's impeachment played a significant role in the county's political shift.

"With Gachagua’s impeachment, things have not been well in the county. Political unrest among his supporters has grown over time, making the political landscape very volatile," he says.

This he says cannot be overstated, as battle lines were drawn of some sort.

"Owing to this, DCP, which is seen as the main opposition party in this region, will capitalise on this and seek significant support from friendly sub-counties. Politics is about numbers and persuasion. It's about articulating issues effectively, and this is what carries the day. As we enter this year, we will keep a keen eye on this,” he says.

However, Laban cautions that it will not be easy, given how the governor has consolidated power in the sub-counties.

"At the moment, Naivasha seems to be the only sub-county not fully aligned with the government’s agenda. However, in politics, things can change in the blink of an eye, so it's impossible to predict the outcome," he says.

The two agree, however, that as we begin the countdown to the elections, very interesting times lie ahead.

Gachagua’s tough fight for space in Nakuru politics amid persistent hostility

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Bret Sanya