Speaking while promoting his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua argued that foreigners, particularly Chinese traders, should focus on large enterprises and leave smaller ventures to locals.
Gachagua toured major markets, including Marikiti, Muthurwa, and Gikomba, where he claimed Chinese traders were taking over stalls traditionally run by Kenyans.
“Kenyans have become poor because of the Chinese. They have made local traders go bankrupt. It is a big mistake to involve them in hawking and small shops. They should stick to large-scale businesses and sell products from factories,” he said.
While acknowledging the positive contribution of foreign investment to Kenya’s economy, Gachagua insisted that small-scale trade should remain in the hands of local entrepreneurs.
The former deputy president blamed President William Ruto’s administration for failing to protect local traders, accusing the government of leniency that allowed foreigners to dominate markets.
Accompanying Gachagua at the rally were Nairobi politicians aligned with his faction, including Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, who is eyeing the 2027 city gubernatorial race.
Gachagua also spoke about the opposition’s preparations to challenge Ruto in the 2027 presidential race.
He confirmed that the coalition would select a strong candidate through consultations while ensuring unity within the camp.
Other opposition figures in the mix include Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-Kenya), and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
He reassured supporters that those not selected to run for president would still have opportunities in key government positions, such as Cabinet roles or parliamentary leadership, should the opposition win the next election.
This is not Gachagua’s first criticism of Chinese involvement in Kenya. In 2023, while in office as deputy president, he expressed concern over the number of Chinese workers on government projects, particularly the Riruta-Ngong Commuter Rail line.
He advocated for hiring more local youth while limiting Chinese participation to key technical roles such as chief engineers and accountants.
Gachagua also urged project managers to pay local workers weekly to support their livelihoods, stressing that Kenya has the capacity to manage large projects with minimal foreign assistance.
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