Fierce power struggle rocks DAP-K as Eugene, Natembeya clash

A vicious power struggle has erupted within the Democratic Action Party of Kenya, pitting party leader Eugene Wamalwa against a faction led by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya.

The rift, which has been simmering for months, burst into the open recently, forcing the outfit to institute a dispute resolution committee to iron out differences.

However, insiders reveal the committee has made little progress as both camps remain unyielding.

DAP-K top decision-making organ—the management committee—met on Thursday in a tension-packed meeting to confirm the dispute resolution body.

“Eugene has already declared there is a war between him and Natembeya because the governor wants his seat. Natembeya is saying he is determined to take this party, so there are two camps there,” a senior DAP-K official told the Star in confidence.

Eugene’s loyalists insist he is the legitimate face of DAP-K and must steer the party ahead of 2027, while Natembeya’s allies accuse the leadership of sidelining them and running the party like a personal fiefdom.

The stalemate threatens to weaken the party’s influence in the opposition coalition, with analysts warning that prolonged infighting could dim its bargaining power.

With Eugene and Natembeya digging in, DAP-K faces an uncertain future and the possibility of a bruising split.

The party on August 12 established a nine-member Internal Dispute Resolution Committee (IDRC) to address emerging conflicts within the party.

The decision was reached during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Chui House, Nairobi.

 “The NEC further resolved to uphold peace, strengthen stability, and focus our full energy on the impending by-elections, fielding strong, credible candidates and rallying the entire party machinery to deliver victories,” the statement read.

The party had also received petitions from members relating to leadership changes.

Some petitions called for the removal of the party leader, while others sought changes to the position of deputy party leader.

 “We want to clean our house as we prepare to take the leadership of this country, and we have agreed we must have internal democracy,” Natembeya said.

Party leader Eugene expressed a similar view, noting that he would respect the committee’s recommendations.

“If the committee suggests, as per the petitions filed, that there should be leadership changes, we will accept the committee’s report, but the party will not be destroyed,” he said.

According to the party’s Parliamentary Group, an external hand through one of its leaders is behind the party’s woes.

“Any effort to launch an unconstitutional takeover of DAP-Kenya, targeting party leader Eugene Wamalwa and the national leadership, will be met with resolute resistance. We are aware of his newly formed political party and caution him against attempts to destabilise DAP-K as he makes his exit,” the PG said in a statement last month.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

DAP-K is one of 23 political parties that contested the 2022 Kenyan general election as part of the Azimio La Umoja alliance. They fielded 61 candidates, but only 5 were elected to the 13th Parliament.