Video: Rigathi Gachagua Arrives at JKIA after 6-Week Tour in US Amid Heightened Security

Video: Rigathi Gachagua Arrives at JKIA after 6-Week Tour in US Amid Heightened Security

  • DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua returned to the country after his nearly two-month tour in the United States
  • In a video, his hundreds of supporters, who had gathered at the JKIA awaiting his return, welcomed him before escorting him to the Kamukunji Grounds
  • The government had threatened action against Gachagua upon his return and issued a warning about his planned press briefing

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Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.

Nairobi: Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has returned to Kenya after a six-week tour of the United States.

Rigathi Gachagua has landed back in Kenya after a six-week stay in the US.
Rigathi Gachagua was addressing his supporters before he left for the US. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua.
Source: Facebook

His arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) sparked commotion as hundreds of supporters gathered, chanting his name, waving banners, and singing 'Wantam'.

Security teams escorted him through the crowd to his waiting convoy. They joined him in a procession to Nairobi’s Kamukunji Grounds.

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Authorities, however, had braced for possible confrontations. Anti-terror police officers were deployed around JKIA, with water cannons stationed at key points.

What did Gachagua do during his US tour?

During his US tour, Gachagua met Kenyans in the diaspora, held public forums, and rallied support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Amid his engagements, the former deputy president affirmed that he would testify against President William Ruto following the US Senate’s launch of a probe into alleged links to terror activities.

He alleged that the government had engaged with al-Shabaab militants, pointing to the April 2025 release of five abducted Mandera chiefs after negotiations.

While visiting Facebook headquarters, he also advanced his 'Wantam' campaign by writing it on the wall— a slogan underscoring his resolve to ensure Ruto serves only a single term.

Gachagua was welcomed by several supporters at the JKIA.
Former DP Rigathi Gachagua atop his vehicle during his procession to the Kamukunji Grounds. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua.
Source: Twitter

Will the government arrest Gachagua?

While DCP had called for a 'million-man welcome' for Gachagua, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned the government would act firmly if the mobilisation turned unruly.

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Murkomen demanded that Gachagua record a statement about his allegations against the president.

Gachagua dismissed the demands, insisting that the police were working under Ruto and therefore could not investigate him.

He further argued that the Kenyan government had not initiated any probe into his statements.

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What else do you need to know from Rigathi Gachagua's US tour?

Will blocking Gachagua's procession spark protests?

Meanwhile, a public policy expert, Arnold Maliba, urged Ruto’s administration to allow Gachagua’s team to proceed with their planned programmes.

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He cautioned that blocking such rallies would only fuel the former deputy president’s publicity. The expert noted that Gachagua, returning from the United States, should be allowed to conduct activities within the law.

Maliba, a Progress Plus Alliance leader, added that attempts to block the events could reignite political unrest. He warned that such a move risked driving masses back to the streets in defiance.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Authors:
Nancy Odindo avatar

Nancy Odindo (Current affairs editor) I have one year of experience in print media and more than four years in digital media. I am currently working with Tuko.co.ke as a Current Affairs editor. I have attended training on Managing Sexual Harassment and Gender Equality and Inclusion, organised by WAN-IFRA and the Google News Initiative (GNI), designed to help journalists find, verify, and tell their stories. Email: nancy.odindo@tuko.co.ke/nancyodindo@gmail.com

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