Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured his supporters that their struggle for better governance is not in vain, following a chaotic rally in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where police reportedly used teargas to disperse crowds. Speaking from the United States, where he is currently on a month-long tour, Gachagua praised his allies for their unwavering commitment to the cause and promised that all injustices would be corrected should they clinch power in 2027.
“To our team, it is always darkest before dawn. We will rewrite the wrongs and restore sanity to governance,” Gachagua declared in a statement. He condemned the actions of what he termed a “failed regime,” accusing the current administration of resorting to suppression and intimidation to silence opposition voices.
The Gilgil incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between security forces and the Gachagua-led opposition, which has been rallying support across the Mt Kenya region. The effort is spearheaded by Nyandarua Senator John Methu and other leaders under the “WanTam” campaign, an emerging political movement seeking to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 general election.
Methu, in a post on social media platform X, said police once again disrupted their peaceful meeting. He shared images showing panicked residents fleeing the scene and security officers clinging to vehicles amid the chaos. “You can teargas us all you want, but we shall not relent. #WanTam,” he stated defiantly.
Gachagua, who is on tour with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, has been holding town hall meetings with Kenyans in the diaspora in an effort to galvanize support ahead of the next election. The former deputy president warned that Kenya is drifting toward dictatorship, citing increasing cases of political suppression.
Despite the mounting pressure, Gachagua urged his team to remain focused, emphasizing that Kenyans are watching. “Keep up the good work. Kenyans are ticking the box,” he said, signaling growing public support for his cause.
The incident underscores growing political tension as the country inches closer to the 2027 election.
