Gachagua’s turbulent return

By Newsflash Writer

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made a dramatic return to the country from the United States on Wednesday, August 21, walking into a storm of political tension, violent confrontations, and open hostility on Mombasa Road.

He emerged from the international arrivals terminal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in disguise — a Stetson hat pulled low and a denim jacket concealing the weight of his return. But for the hundreds of loyalists who had camped overnight, vigilance paid off. They erupted the moment they caught sight of him, chanting “One Term” and waving placards in defiance.

Airport turns into battleground

The arrival, billed as a symbolic show of defiance, quickly spiralled into chaos. Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala was dramatically blocked from entering a restricted section of the airport, prompting him to accuse police of harassment.

“They want to arrest him, and we will not allow it. We will not leave here without him,” Malala thundered, rallying supporters to surge into the VIP area. Confusion reigned as travellers watched the airport transform into a political battlefield.

When Gachagua finally appeared, security officers ringed him tightly, shielding him from the surging masses. Supporters broke into song, filmed feverishly on their phones, and turned JKIA into a stage for political theatre. Gachagua, however, refused to speak — raising his hand briefly before slipping into a waiting SUV.

Outside the gates, the convoy pressed through restless crowds. At one point, Gachagua stepped out briefly along Mombasa Road to wave at chanting supporters before retreating into his vehicle. Moments later, violence broke out — goons hijacked the spectacle, attacking vehicles, smashing windscreens, and robbing civilians and journalists in the melee.

Silence amid accusations

The convoy had been expected to end at Kamukunji grounds, but fears of an ambush forced a diversion. Opposition leaders regrouped at a separate venue, where fury boiled over.

Malala accused the State of intimidation. Manyatta MP John Mukunji claimed President William Ruto had no “moral authority to lecture anyone on corruption and tribalism.” Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu alleged State-sponsored violence, while Embakasi North MP James Gakuya called the chaos an assault on freedoms.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen swiftly distanced the government from accusations of repression. “The National Police Service is always on alert to prevent any breach of peace. Officers operate independently unless there is a specific request to the Inspector-General,” he said, rejecting claims of State involvement.

Through it all, Gachagua remained silent — his absence of words louder than the fiery speeches around him. His allies framed his silence as stoicism, his critics saw it as calculation. Yet the chaos, the broken windscreens, the chants, and the bloodied victims along Mombasa Road spoke volumes about the turbulence of his return.