NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will depart today for the United States to begin a two-month diaspora tour aimed at rallying support and spotlighting what he describes as Kenya’s deteriorating political and economic state.
Speaking in Nairobi, Gachagua said he would engage Kenyans living abroad and the international community on issues affecting the country.
“Tonight, I will be travelling to the U.S. to talk to Kenyans in the diaspora and the international community about the state of the nation,” he said.
The former deputy president, who was ousted from office amid a dramatic political fallout with President William Ruto, is expected to visit multiple American cities including Dallas, California, Seattle, Boston, and Baltimore.
The trip, which he revealed last month, marks his first foreign engagement since leaving office and is seen as part of a broader campaign to reposition himself and the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
Diaspora Agenda and Political Messaging
During the tour, Gachagua plans to hold a series of town hall meetings, community gatherings, and private talks with American investors.
His itinerary includes meetings with stakeholders reportedly keen on supporting the opposition’s economic and governance agenda.
He is also expected to use the platform to market the opposition coalition as a credible alternative to the current administration.
Insiders within his camp say the tour is a key step in solidifying his role in the opposition alliance, which includes Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, NARC-Kenya’s Martha Karua, DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Matiang’i recently held a similar town hall meeting in Texas, officially launching his international campaign trail.
Gachagua raised alarm over what he termed attempts by state operatives to block or frustrate his overseas travel plans—claims that add to the tension between him and the Ruto administration.
“There have been efforts to prevent me from leaving, but I remain undeterred. Kenya belongs to all of us,” he said, without providing further details.
