Cleo Malala Vows to Rally 300k Kenyans for Gachagua’s Welcome, Dares Govt to Arrest Him
- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s looming return from his US trip has sparked political tension
- Malala dared Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to arrest Gachagua on arrival, promising to publicly reveal his exact travel details, from flight number to seat allocation
- The standoff follows Murkomen’s demand that Gachagua be questioned over his claims linking the Kenya Kwanza government to terrorist groups
- Gachagua threatened to give American authorities evidence allegedly connecting President William Ruto to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and al-Shabaab
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
A showdown is looming as former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is winding down his US tour, returning to Kenya.
Source: Facebook
Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) deputy leader Cleo Malala has vowed to lead a massive show of force at the airport when the former deputy president returns.
Malala challenged the Kenya Kwanza government to move forward with their alleged plan to arrest their party leader.
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How will Gachagua be welcomed?
The DCP deputy party leader, speaking in a charged address, declared that they would mobilise 300,000 supporters to welcome Gachagua from the airport.
"Kipchumba Murkomen is saying that Gachagua should be arrested the moment he lands at the airport. I want to tell you, Murkomen, if you are truly a man, try arresting Gachagua," Malala said.
He further vowed transparency about Gachagua’s travel details, a move seemingly intended to demonstrate political strength.
Malala’s remarks portrayed a strategy to turn Gachagua’s return into a political spectacle, stating that the day would be a public holiday.
"We have already said that our party leader will announce the date he is returning, the exact flight he will take, the seat number he will occupy on the plane, and the exact time that plane will land. We have declared that we are mobilising 300,000 people to go and receive him at the airport, so let’s see where you will dare lay a hand on him. We want the whole world to know that the day Gachagua returns will be treated as a public holiday," he added.
The scale of the mobilisation he promised would rival some of the largest political gatherings in recent memory, including ODM leader Raila Odinga's grand return in 2017.
Gachagua’s camp has yet to confirm the exact date of his return, but Malala’s announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes political showdown at the airport.
Why does Murkomen want Gachagua questioned?
His fiery remarks follow days of escalating political tension triggered by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s demand that Gachagua be questioned.
The Interior CS's remarks were in response to claims by the former DP linking the Kenya Kwanza government to terrorist groups, including al-Shabaab.
Murkomen accused the ex-DP of handling national security matters recklessly, suggesting his remarks in the US were aimed at boosting his political profile.
Source: Facebook
He insisted that Gachagua must record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations upon arrival, warning that failure to do so could raise questions about his mental health.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki echoed the call, urging authorities to hold Gachagua accountable for the allegations.
Gachagua, in the US since July 11, has been meeting stakeholders also threatened to provide American authorities with evidence linking Ruto to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and Somalia-based al-Shabaab.
Will Gachagua be arrested upon return to Kenya?
In a related report, Mandera senator Ali Roba demanded the arrest of Gachagua, dismissing his allegations that Ruto met with al-Shabaab operatives as “reckless and fabricated.”
Roba called these assertions delusional and warned they sow division, urging the DCI to interrogate Gachagua once he returns.
He insisted that every detail of Ruto’s public schedule was transparent and accused Gachagua of spreading dangerous falsehoods.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
