Senior Counsel Nelson Havi has joined Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
On Wednesday, February 4, Havi walked into DCP headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi – draped in green and black party regalia – signalling a sharp turn in Kenya’s pre-2027 political alignments.
The former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president, once an outspoken member of President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), now stands beside the former deputy president in a gesture rich with political symbolism.
In photos shared widely on social media, Havi’s polished black shoes clicked against the marble lobby as he entered the DCP offices.
Behind him, the party’s bold colours – green, brown and white – glowed like embers against the Nairobi skyline.
“DCP is the home of progressive professionals who desire political leadership,” Rigathi Gachagua said, welcoming Havi into the fold – a statement that was broadcast on X and Facebook shortly after the ceremony.
Gachagua lauded Havi as one of Kenya’s “great legal minds”, promising his expertise would be central to the party’s push for stronger legislation, representation, and oversight as 2027 looms.
DCP party requires great legal minds for Legislation, Representation and Oversight.
I am happy to welcome @NelsonHavi, one of the greatest legal minds in the country to walk with us in his quest to represent the people of Westlands constituency in the National Assembly.… pic.twitter.com/PvWV2NyyPB
— Rigathi Gachagua (@rigathi) February 4, 2026
For Havi – whose voice has been a familiar echo through Kenya’s courtrooms and legal debates – this is more than a change of letterheads.
The passage presents a strategic realignment that challenges the existing political order. The experienced lawyer has turned his attention to the Westlands parliamentary seat, a position he initially sought in 2022 while representing the UDA but was unable to secure.
His critics were swift to pounce. Nairobi MCA Robert Alai took to X to dismiss Havi’s Westlands ambitions as “delusional”, questioning whether the DCP’s platform could truly cut through entrenched party loyalties.
Nelson Havi, unfazed, offered a pointed explanation on Nation FM on Thursday about why he left UDA.
He described being sidelined during internal party processes including an episode where he was reportedly removed from a voter register during local party elections – a slight he called both humiliating and undemocratic.
“I’ve been courted by different political formations,” Havi said.
“I settled on DCP because I believe in work – not personality cults.”
Former LSK President Nelson Havi believes he will be DCP’s candidate in Westlands come 2027. #FixingTheNationNTV @nationfmke @ericlatiff @mariambishar @Officialjmbugua pic.twitter.com/lALEs4UAKS
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 5, 2026
Since his dramatic fallout with President Ruto, Gachagua has been quietly assembling a coalition of professionals, disgruntled former allies, and regional power brokers.
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The recruitment of figures like Havi – and earlier, Kanini Kega – suggests the party is accelerating from a protest movement to structured opposition.
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