Gachagua has turned ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign into Mount Kenya affair - Moses Kuria

A photo collage of Rigathi Gachagua and Moses Kuria

Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has criticised Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of turning the youth-driven ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign into a regional initiative focused on the Mt Kenya bloc.

On his X account on Friday, March 27, 2026, Kuria said the campaign, which gained popularity among Gen Zs on TikTok, was initially intended as a civic movement encouraging young Kenyans to participate in national conversations and voter registration. Its rapid online spread made it one of the most visible youth-led initiatives.

“I followed my friend Riggy G with TikTokker MC Chris last evening on the Niko Kadi Gen Z campaign. Miraculously, he managed to convert the noble civic campaign into a Mt Kenya affair.

“As a parent of Gen Zs, this saddens me. If he is the Niko Kadi champion, let us change the campaign to its Kikuyu translation ‘Ndi Na Mùtì’. Over to you, my friend Gen Z Baddie,” Kuria stated.

Kuria argued that Gachagua’s involvement, including appearances alongside digital influencers, has shifted the campaign’s perception from a national youth movement to one closely associated with the Mt Kenya region.

He warned that branding civic efforts along regional lines risks alienating other communities and diluting the campaign’s message of youth unity and participation.

His comments reflect growing concerns among leaders and parents who feel that Gen Z-focused initiatives should remain free from political or ethnic undertones. Some have even sarcastically suggested renaming the campaign to reflect a single community, highlighting fears of exclusion.

The criticism follows Gachagua’s participation in the Niko Kadi campaign in Nyeri town on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

The DCP leader, accompanied by his spouse Reverend Dorcas Gachagua and sons Keith and Kelvin, painted Nyeri Town in DCP colours, white and green, as they marched to the Nyeri County Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices to verify their voter registration and update biometrics.

Speaking to the media after the exercise, Gachagua said his motive was to support Gen Zs in completing the work they began during the June 2024 protests, aimed at challenging the current administration. He urged young people to register as voters in large numbers.

The Niko Kadi campaign continues to gain momentum, with founder Ademba Allans stating the initiative aims to sensitize over 1,000 youths from each constituency to register as voters daily.