DCP Candidate for Magarini Quits Party, Citing Frustrations with Officials

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The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has suffered a major setback after its Magarini parliamentary candidate, Furaha Chengo Ngumbao, announced his exit from the party.

Ngumbao, who is also a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), cited frustrations with the party’s leadership as the main reason for his resignation. His departure is seen as a blow to DCP’s ambitions in the upcoming November 27 by-elections.

In a letter released on Monday, Ngumbao accused the National Elections Board (NEB) and Secretary-General Hezron Obanga of poor leadership and disregard for party members. He said that his experience with the party structures had been “profoundly disappointing.”

Ngumbao highlighted the lack of communication, failure to address grassroots concerns, and unclear directives as issues that made his candidacy untenable. According to him, aspirants were being forced to navigate the political process without sufficient support from the party hierarchy.

The former DCP candidate also pointed out opaque decision-making within the party, saying that NEC members were sidelined in critical deliberations. This exclusion, he noted, had eroded his confidence and trust in the leadership’s ability to guide the party effectively.

“I hope that future leadership will prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and accountability,” Ngumbao stated in his resignation letter. He further urged the party to strengthen engagement with its members to avoid alienating supporters ahead of the elections.

Ngumbao’s resignation is particularly significant because he had only recently been unveiled as the party’s flag bearer. On September 18, Secretary-General Obanga personally handed him the nomination certificate, expressing confidence in his ability to capture the Magarini seat for DCP.

The Magarini parliamentary seat, located in Kilifi County, fell vacant after the High Court annulled the 2022 election results following a successful petition. The upcoming by-election had been seen as an opportunity for DCP to increase its presence in the Coast region.

Political analysts now argue that Ngumbao’s exit could weaken DCP’s momentum and disrupt its campaign strategy in Magarini. The party will be forced to quickly identify a new candidate or risk losing ground to more established rivals.

The resignation also raises wider questions about internal divisions within DCP, which had positioned itself as a party of reform and grassroots empowerment. Whether the leadership will address these concerns remains to be seen.