Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is at the center of a storm after opposition leaders alleged that he narrowly escaped arrest at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) upon his return from the United States.
Gachagua, who had been away for six weeks, arrived to a charged reception by hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the airport to welcome him back. According to opposition leaders, his strong show of public support forced authorities to shelve a purported plan to detain him immediately after landing.
Eyewitnesses said Gachagua’s motorcade, which was initially expected to head to Kamkunji Grounds for a homecoming procession, abruptly changed course after intelligence of a possible arrest circulated among his allies. Instead, the convoy sped away under tight escort, avoiding the heavily policed routes leading into the city.
Opposition leaders accused the government of attempting to intimidate the former Deputy President, warning that such tactics could heighten political tensions in the country. “This administration is determined to silence dissent, but Kenyans will not stand by as leaders are harassed,” one leader claimed.
Government officials, however, did not confirm or deny the alleged plot, with sources close to the security apparatus dismissing the claims as political theater.
Gachagua’s camp has remained tight-lipped on the matter, only expressing gratitude to supporters who turned up in large numbers. Analysts say the incident highlights the deepening political rift within the country’s leadership, with Gachagua increasingly positioning himself as a voice of resistance.
Whether the events at JKIA signal the beginning of a new phase in Kenya’s political realignments remains to be seen, but the former Deputy President’s dramatic return has undoubtedly reignited debate over state power, opposition politics, and the road to 2027.
