An opposition rally in Gilgil, Nakuru County, was abruptly disrupted on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, after a group of suspected hired goons attacked residents gathered to listen to opposition leaders.
The rally, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alongside Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition figures, drew hundreds of residents to a roadside public meeting. Tensions escalated when DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa began addressing the crowd in an effort to garner support for the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Hardly had Wamalwa started speaking when youth reportedly charged at the attendees, pelting them with objects and forcing residents to scatter for safety. Footage of the incident shows Gachagua and fellow opposition leaders standing atop vehicles as chaos unfolded, with residents seeking cover in nearby buildings.
Following the attacks, opposition leaders accused local leaders allied with President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating the disruption. Wamalwa specifically condemned Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, alleging that she had hired goons to intimidate opposition supporters and branding her a “one-term leader.”
This is not the first attack on opposition gatherings in Gilgil. In August 2025, a meeting organized by Gachagua’s allies, led by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, was disrupted when police officers dispersed residents using tear gas. During that incident, a boda boda rider was reportedly shot in the leg and rushed to the hospital, with several other attendees sustaining injuries.
The Tuesday rally came in the absence of former DP Gachagua, who is currently in the United States for a two-month fundraising tour. Despite the disruption, opposition leaders vowed to continue engaging residents across Nakuru County ahead of the next general elections.
The repeated interruptions of opposition meetings in Gilgil highlight rising tensions in the region as parties prepare for the 2027 electoral contest.
