"Serious candidates": Kuria claims Kiarie gave KSh 50m to DCP after UDA exit
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Former Trade CS Moses Kuria claimed that he had pre-warned about Rigathi Gachagua's planned trip to the United States
- Kuria alleged that candidates seeking DCP support in Mt. Kenya must meet a financial threshold, citing Irungu Kangata's KSh 2 million as falling short
- Gachagua later confirmed he would travel to the US, citing the need to make decisions free from interference by close associates
Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.
Former Trade Cabinet secretary Moses Kuria has claimed that Nyandarua governor Moses Kiarie Badilisha contributed KSh 50 million towards Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) campaigns, setting what he described as the benchmark for serious Mt. Kenya aspirants seeking the party's backing.
Kuria made the claims on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after a past television appearance where he said he had already warned journalist Jeff Koinange about the real motivation behind former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua's planned trip to the United States.
Kuria's claims on DCP candidate thresholds
Speaking in an animated address, Kuria alleged that the only qualifying condition for Mt. Kenya aspirants seeking DCP candidacy is meeting a monetary threshold.
He contrasted Governor Badilisha's reported KSh 50 million contribution with what he described as an inadequate KSh 2 million from Murang'a governor Irungu Kang'ata, saying Kang'ata was already facing trouble over the lower amount.
"The only qualification for Mt. Kenya aspirants to get the DCP candidates is meeting the monetary threshold required. Ask Irungu Kang'ata who is already in trouble for only giving KSh 2 million unlike the exemplary Moses Kiarie Badilisha of Nyandarua who has set the benchmark with his generous KSh 50 million contribution," Kuria said.
He went further to suggest that Gachagua's decision to relocate operations to the US served partly to filter out unserious contenders, arguing that any aspirant unable to secure a visa and air ticket was either naive or foolish.
"Now the only way to show joking aspirants this is not a joking matter is to move the delivery point to the USA. If you can afford to get a visa and air ticket then you are a good and serious candidate," he argued, adding, "Wheat must be separated from chaff, boys must be separated from men. If you have not secured a visa and booked a ticket, you are either a fool or naive or both."
Gachagua confirms US trip
The claims gained renewed attention after Gachagua publicly confirmed plans to travel to the US with his wife for a period of at least two months.
In his own remarks, Gachagua said there were matters he intended to resolve away from what he described as undue influence from close allies including Senator John Methu and MP John Kaguchia.
"When I am here there are a lot of influence from Kaguchia, Methu, and other leaders. I want to make some decisions without undue influence for those I am walking with and I will make the right decision," Gachagua said.
Kuria used Gachagua's confirmation to validate his earlier prediction, stating that the former deputy president had effectively corroborated the warning he had issued on August 9, 2026.
Meanwhile, Gachagua was impeached as deputy president in October 2024 and has since been active in Mt. Kenya political circles through his DCP Party.
Several Mt. Kenya leaders from the ruling UDA have also defected to DCP as the party gains traction ahead of the 2027 polls.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.