Rigathi Gachagua's Allies Claim 100 Police Officers Were Sent to JKIA to Arrest Him: "We Said No"
- Rigathi Gachagua's allies now claim he had been marked by the police after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday
- Nyandarua senator John Methu attributed Gachagua's freedom to his supporters, whom he lauded for protecting him
- Gachagua returned to the country after close to six weeks of politicking in the United States, where he advanced his agenda against President William Ruto
The government was keen to make good on the threat of arresting Rigathi Gachagua as soon as he landed at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Source: Twitter
This is according to the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader's allies, who welcomed him during his return from the United States on Thursday, August 21.
Did police plan to arrest Gachagua
They claimed that at least 100 police officers were deployed at the airport to catch Gachagua.
Nyandarua senator John Methu asserted that the former deputy president's supporters blocked the attempts to arrest their leader.
He thanked them for keeping tabs on Gachagua and preventing the alleged imminent arrest.
"When we were at the airport, more than 100 officers were there to arrest him. I want to thank you, his supporters, for standing by him and ensuring that he reaches home safely," Methu said.
Methu's claims were underscored by DCP deputy leader Cleophas Malala, who said they were alert to block any attempt to have Gachagua apprehended.
"We wanted to receive our party leader, but they deployed police officers. They planned to arrest him, but we said no. We want Ruto to respect human rights," said Malala.
Was there plan to arrest Gachagua?
The likelihood of Gachagua being arrested has been of concern to his supporters ever since Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hinted at it.
Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on August 9, the CS argued that Gachagua should be taken into custody and compelled to record statements regarding his comments against Ruto in the course of his engagements abroad.
While abroad, Gachagua claimed that the president had previously engaged with members of the Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabaab and was allegedly involved in illicit dealings with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Murkomen warned that these allegations posed a serious risk to national security and called for Gachagua to be held accountable.
In contrast, Malala cautioned that any attempt to arrest Gachagua could provoke significant unrest, as his supporters would likely resist such action.
It is not lost that Gachagua once served in the current regime as its second in command following the Kenya Kwanza alliance's win in the 2022 presidential vote.
He was the chief defender of the current president, and their bitter fallout was unforeseen.
Source: Getty Images
How Gachagua wants to get back at Ruto
The two leaders were the best of allies, and jointly steered the country united, with Gachagua vowing to remain loyal and subordinate to the president.
Things, however, started going south in mid-2024, with Gachagua starting to decry being sidelined by the president.
At one point, he claimed the president's handlers ejected him from a WhatsApp group, suggesting how sour his relations with his boss were getting.
Their differences culminated in Gachagua's impeachment months later, with Ruto replacing him with then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki.
Gachagua then embarked on an abrasive onslaught on Ruto, giving revelations that indicated Ruto's supposed inability to lead the country.
It was in the course of his anti-offensive that he devised his mission to make Ruto a one-term president, a would-be first scenario in Kenya's history.
Gachagua accuses Ruto of corruption, overseeing abductions and extrajudicial killings, nepotism, and other forms of maladministration.
He has already recruited members of the previous opposition under Raila Odinga to his side.
Gachagua now shares a side with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP Kenya's Eugene Wamalwa, and Martha Karua of PLP, all of whom were in the Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party.
He said he would be backing any of the foregoing to challenge Ruto in 2027, however, holding that he is the best fit to face off with Ruto.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
