The official launch of the Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP), closely associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has been postponed following a last-minute cancellation of venue access at the Kasarani Indoor Arena. Sports Kenya, the state agency managing the facility, declined the party’s request, citing prior commitments and preparations for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In a letter dated May 27, Sports Kenya Acting Director General Gabriel Komora stated that the Kasarani Gymnasium would be unavailable on June 3, 2025 — the scheduled launch date — due to earlier bookings by sports teams and the ongoing readiness activities for CHAN 2025. “We regret to inform you that the venue will not be available due to prior bookings. We are also not taking further bookings due to preparations for CHAN 2025,” the letter read.
DCP officials have sharply criticised the move, alleging political interference. In a statement, DCP Secretary General Hezron Obaga termed the cancellation as “an affront to democracy,” suggesting that state agencies are being used to frustrate the party’s emergence. He further revealed that Sports Kenya had initially confirmed the availability of the venue for June 3 and issued an invoice of Sh3.7 million, which the party was ready to pay.
“To our shock, Sports Kenya has now cancelled the booking indefinitely,” Obaga said. “This move is politically motivated and discriminatory against DCP.”
Obaga insisted that the Kasarani facility, being a public resource, should be accessible to all citizens regardless of political affiliation. The party is now seeking a private venue to host its launch and has promised to announce a new date soon.
The development is expected to fuel further political debate, with critics accusing the government of using state institutions to stifle opposition voices. As DCP positions itself as a potential challenger in the Mount Kenya region, the postponed launch underlines the growing tensions in Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
