The much-anticipated launch of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has been abruptly derailed—and the blame is being pointed squarely at the government.
The party, set to make its grand debut at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on June 3, has been forced to postpone the event after Sports Kenya suddenly revoked their reservation, citing prior commitments to the upcoming CHAN 2025 tournament.
In a letter dated May 21, 2025, Acting Director General of Sports Kenya, Gabriel Komora, delivered the blow: “We regret to inform you that the venue will not be available… preparations for CHAN 2025 are underway, and we are no longer accepting new bookings.”
But the DCP isn’t buying it.“This is not just a cancellation—it’s a calculated political hit,” roared DCP Secretary General Hezron Obaga in a fiery statement.He condemned the move as “an assault on democracy and a blatant attempt by the state to silence rising political voices.”
The party says they had officially written to Sports Kenya on May 20 requesting the venue for June 4. They were told the date wasn’t available—but June 3 was open. DCP agreed.
They were issued an invoice totaling Sh3.7 million and told the booking was confirmed.Then, just hours later, came a shocking reversal. A follow-up message informed the party that the booking had been indefinitely canceled, and the venue would not be available—not on June 3, nor any time soon.
Betrayal or Bureaucracy?Obaga claims this isn’t just an isolated case. He cited previous incidents of what he calls “targeted harassment,” including disruptions at the party’s unveiling on May 15 and a chaotic confrontation with police in Kakamega on May 24.
“The message is clear,” Obaga said. “The government is determined to cripple the DCP before we even begin.”With the public venue now off-limits, DCP says they are scouting for a private location for the launch and will announce a new date soon.
“We won’t be silenced. We’re here to stay,” Obaga declared.Kenya now watches closely—as the stage is set for a growing showdown between the state and one of the country’s newest political contenders.
Is this just poor planning—or is Kenya witnessing the early signs of democratic suppression?
