NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s homecoming turned violent on Thursday evening when a group of goons attacked his motorcade along Mombasa Road, leaving several vehicles destroyed and sparking fears of coordinated political violence.
Gachagua, who arrived from the United States after a six-week trip, had earlier been welcomed by jubilant supporters at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
The former DP’s arrival drew senior UDA officials including Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, and hundreds of grassroots mobilizers.
Organized Goons on Motorbikes
Videos seen by Y News captured groups of men on motorbikes riding along Mombasa road after Gachagua’s convoy left JKIA.
Many appeared organized, with three or four riders packed on one motorbike.
The motorbike gangs then pelted vehicles with stones and blunt objects, smashing windows and denting car bodies.
The scenes bore an uncanny resemblance to the alleged state-sponsored goons who infiltrated and attacked Gen Z led protests earlier this year, sparking speculation about whether the same groups had resurfaced.
Security and Political Questions
The attack has raised questions about the absence of police intervention, despite the earlier heavy deployment at JKIA.
Critics argue the assault may have been a case of deliberate sabotage, particularly given that Malala had officially notified police leadership about the planned procession from the airport through the CBD to Kamukunji grounds, where Gachagua was expected to address supporters.
Gachagua’s allies had framed his return as the start of a new chapter in his political journey, but the attack underscores Kenya’s fragile political environment, where public gatherings are vulnerable to infiltration.
