Gachagua Ally Addresses Claims Kalonzo and Matiang’i Are ‘Lazy’ as Gachagua Campaigns

DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has addressed claims that some opposition leaders have slowed down their campaigns, insisting that removing President William Ruto from power will require deliberate effort, resources, and strong grassroots mobilisation.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Malala dismissed the idea that public perception determines electoral success.

Instead, he stressed that numbers and mobilization capacity ultimately decide elections.

“Election is not an interview, it’s not a beauty contest. You don’t look at things like who is taller or who looks better. No. An election is about how many people you bring to the table and whether you have the capacity to campaign as a presidential candidate,” he said.

He then pointed to two critical pillars of political success: People and resources, arguing that his side has already demonstrated both through sustained nationwide campaigns.

“We have clearly shown that we are a party that is very committed. Right now, we are the ones holding rallies across all regions of Kenya. We are the ones trying to mobilize and build our structures from the polling station level. So effort must be rewarded,” he stated.

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Malala Says Coalition Talks Must Reflect Contribution

Building on that argument, Malala maintained that coalition negotiations must reflect each party’s actual contribution. He warned against rewarding leaders who fail to invest effort on the ground.

“It cannot be that we are the ones bringing in large numbers of people and looking for resources and partners to support us then when we get to the negotiating table, I personally will say, ‘You, Riggy G, my party leader, this party must get a chance at the presidency.’ We will present our figures and say, ‘We are bringing five or six million votes. How many are you bringing?’ It cannot be that you have just stayed at home and are not campaigning,” he said.

Kalonzo, Matiang’i Remarks Addressed

At the same time, Malala addressed remarks suggesting that opposition figures, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i, have not done enough to mobilize voters.

In response, Malala avoided directly faulting them. However, he emphasized that each leader must demonstrate ambition, effort, and the ability to seek support.

“One thing is that everyone has their own talent, yes, it’s about talent and ability. And maybe some people do not want to be president, maybe they are not putting in effort because they don’t want to or they lack that ambition. But have they declared their intentions? Declaring is one thing, but actively seeking support is another,” he said.

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Call for Greater Effort in Opposition

Consequently, Malala urged opposition leaders to intensify their campaigns, warning that unseating President Ruto will not be easy.

“I would like to urge leaders in the United Opposition to understand that removing William Ruto will not be easy; people must put in the effort,” he stated.

Personal Stakes in Ruto Ouster

Moreover, Malala revealed that he and Gachagua feel a personal responsibility to lead the push against Ruto, saying their political future depends on the outcome.

“Rigathi Gachagua and I are the ones who helped put William Ruto in power. So we have the biggest responsibility to ensure that we are the ones who remove him. That’s why you see we are not resting. Let me tell you this: if William Ruto returns to power, Rigathi and I could even end up in jail. So we are doing our work, we are defending Kenyans, but we are also defending ourselves,” he said.

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A photo of Cleophas Malala and DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua during the Party’s retreat in Mombasa on Monday, January,19,2026.PHOTO/Cleophas Malala Facebook