DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has issued a warning that he will mobilise nationwide protests if the government fails to act against individuals he claims are behind repeated disruptions at his public meetings.
Speaking during a recent rally, the former Deputy President accused security officers and hired goons of deliberately causing chaos at his gatherings, including an incident in which teargas was allegedly lobbed inside a church. Gachagua demanded that those responsible, including police officers captured on camera, be arrested and charged in court.
He laid the blame squarely on President William Ruto’s administration, alleging that the violence is being orchestrated to intimidate opposition leaders while shifting blame onto innocent political actors. According to Gachagua, the continued targeting of his meetings shows a deliberate effort by the State to silence dissent.
The DCP leader warned that if no action is taken, he will call on Kenyans to take to the streets in what he described as unprecedented demonstrations. He claimed the protests would be broader and more intense than past opposition-led street actions, adding that young people, particularly Gen Z, would be at the forefront.
“These will not be the usual demonstrations people are used to. If the government refuses to act, Kenyans of goodwill will rise and demand accountability,” he said.
However, even as Gachagua escalated his rhetoric, President Ruto addressed the issue of recent disturbances from a different angle. Speaking during a church service on Sunday, February 1, the President condemned the chaos witnessed at a place of worship in Othaya, stressing that churches and other holy places must be respected and kept free from political or violent confrontations.
Ruto did not directly respond to Gachagua’s accusations but emphasised the need for peace, order and respect for religious institutions amid rising political tensions.