Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has arrived in the United States for an extended tour expected to last about 50 days, with the programme combining personal time and political engagements with Kenyans in the diaspora. Gachagua left Kenya on the evening of Wednesday, August 26, accompanied by his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi. According to an itinerary released by the DCP, he will spend the opening 10 days resting and spending time with his family before beginning scheduled engagements in five US locations.
Gachagua said before his departure that the initial break would give him an opportunity to rest after an extended period of political activity. He also indicated that the time away from Kenya would allow him to reflect on political matters without what he described as pressure or influence from his close associates. The political programme is scheduled to begin on September 4 in Spokane, Washington, where Gachagua is expected to hold engagements with Kenyans living in the area. The Spokane leg is scheduled to run until September 10. He will then travel to Portland, Oregon, for engagements scheduled from September 10 to September 16.
The itinerary places Kansas next, with activities planned between September 16 and September 24. From Kansas, Gachagua is scheduled to travel to Dallas, Texas, where he is expected to hold further engagements from September 24 to October 1. His final listed stop is Boston, Massachusetts, with activities scheduled from October 1 to October 9. The DCP itinerary describes the programme as a combination of political activities and meetings with members of the Kenyan diaspora. Specific venues and host organisations for some of the engagements had not been publicly announced.
The US tour comes as Gachagua continues to build the DCP’s political structures ahead of the 2027 General Election. His departure follows a period of political consultations and grassroots activities in Kenya. The former Deputy President has been holding meetings with political leaders and other groups while positioning the DCP ahead of the next election. The US visit gives Gachagua an opportunity to interact with Kenyan communities abroad as the party seeks to expand its support base. However, the available itinerary does not establish that the tour is solely intended to campaign for the 2027 election. It formally outlines political and diaspora engagements, while Gachagua has also said the initial period will be devoted to rest and family time.
The tour is expected to conclude with the Boston engagements on October 9, although the overall trip has been described by the DCP as lasting approximately 50 days. For now, Gachagua’s confirmed programme consists of an initial 10-day break followed by scheduled stops in Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Texas and Massachusetts. The visit comes at a significant stage of preparations for Kenya’s 2027 elections, as political parties and prospective candidates continue to organise support networks both within the country and among Kenyans living abroad.