NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at noon today, marking the climax of a whirlwind return that has electrified his supporters and unsettled the government in equal measure.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which Gachagua leads, has billed the day as nothing short of historic.
For days, the party has mobilized crowds across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa, urging supporters to flood the capital for what they call a “majestic procession” from JKIA to Kamukunji Grounds.
But while DCP paints today as a celebration of democracy and resilience, government officials have issued stark warnings about law and order.
“The King Is Coming” — DCP’s Big Bet
To Gachagua’s loyalists, today isn’t just about welcoming back a political leader. It’s about reaffirming his place in the national conversation.
DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has compared Gachagua to “a king,” calling on Kenyans to show up. In interviews and social media posts, Malala has framed the homecoming as both a reunion and a political rebirth ahead of the November by-elections.
Supporters have been promised a convoy snaking through the city, ending with a mass rally at Kamukunji — a symbolic venue steeped in Kenya’s political history.
“The king is coming. Humble yourselves and wait for the majestic walk,” Malala declared earlier this week, echoing the language of pageantry and power.
Arrest Fears and Allegations of a Plot
Yet beneath the celebrations lurks a darker narrative. DCP has repeatedly accused the state of plotting to arrest, silence, or even poison Gachagua upon his arrival.
Malala has gone as far as likening the alleged scheme to the suffering endured by multiparty icon Kenneth Matiba in detention.
The party also claims the government might attempt to divert Gachagua’s flight to Kisumu or Mombasa to prevent him from addressing Nairobi crowds.
Government officials have denied such claims, but the allegations have only fueled the sense of drama, turning what might have been a routine homecoming into a high-stakes showdown.
Government Plays It Cool — and Tough
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has publicly dismissed the hype, insisting there’s nothing unusual about one politician returning home. “There are so many people landing in Kenya every day,” he quipped, questioning why Gachagua’s arrival should be treated as anything more.
Still, behind the cool front, the government has sent clear signals. Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja have both stressed that today’s events will only proceed within the law. Any unsanctioned procession, they warn, risks disruption, and intelligence reports have hinted at possible chaos.
“The National Police Service is fully in charge of security,” Murkomen said, adding that suspects involved in violence or destruction of property could face terror-related charges
Gachagua’s return isn’t just about optics. It comes against the backdrop of upcoming by-elections, a divided political landscape, and his own controversial statements abroad — including allegations that President William Ruto met Al Shabaab operatives in Mandera.
That cocktail of political ambition, security tension, and raw symbolism makes today more than a simple airport reception. It’s a stage where Gachagua and his supporters will test their muscle, and where the government will test its resolve.
