In a move that has left aspiring leaders reeling, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has unveiled a controversial registration fee structure for aspirants seeking to join his fledgling Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
With elections still two years away, the announcement—complete with a Pay Bill number (247247) and fees ranging from KSh 2,500 for youth and persons with disabilities (PWD) to a staggering KSh 50,000 for gubernatorial hopefuls—raises serious questions about the party’s intentions and Gachagua’s leadership.
The DCP’s poster, emblazoned with the slogan “Skiza Wakenya” (Listen to Kenyans), ironically demands that aspirants pay hefty sums to even enter the race. A Member of Parliament slot costs KSh 10,000, while women representatives and senators face the same fee, with discounted rates for youth and PWDs.
The pinnacle of this financial gauntlet is the KSh 50,000 fee for governor aspirants, a sum that could deter genuine grassroots leaders at a time when Kenya grapples with economic hardship.
Critics argue this is less about building a political movement and more about padding Gachagua’s pockets.
With the country still reeling from financial strain, asking aspirants—many of whom are ordinary citizens hoping to represent their communities—to foot such bills smacks of opportunism. The timing is particularly tone-deaf; two years before the next election, this feels less like a strategic party buildup and more like a cash grab disguised as political ambition.
Worse still, the lack of clarity on whether these fees will apply again during party primaries adds fuel to the fire. Will aspirants be forced to pay twice to secure their candidacy? This ambiguity fuels suspicions of a pyramid scheme, where the real beneficiaries are those at the top—namely Gachagua himself.
For a man who once positioned himself as a champion of Mt Kenya and a fighter for Kenyan interests, this move betrays a stark disconnect from the struggles of the people he claims to serve.
Political veterans recall that successful parties, like those led by founding fathers or modern reformists, built their strength on ideology and grassroots support, not paywalls. Gachagua’s approach risks alienating the very demographic he needs—young leaders, women, and marginalized groups—who are now priced out of participation. If the goal were truly to form the next government, as any serious party leader would claim, shouldn’t the focus be on mobilizing resources to support candidates rather than extracting them?
This registration fee debacle paints Gachagua as a leader more interested in self-enrichment than nation-building.
As Kenyans watch, the DCP’s early misstep could well be its undoing, leaving voters to wonder if the party’s true agenda is democracy—or simply dollars. For now, the “Citizens Party” seems to prioritize the wallets of its aspirants over the will of the people.
