Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faced yet another hostile reception during a thanksgiving service for Shamata Ward MCA Gitau Njamba in Nyandarua County on Saturday, December 28. The event turned chaotic when fracas erupted as Nyandarua Senator John Methu addressed the crowd, forcing Gachagua and his entourage to seek safety.
Videos captured by witnesses show a charged crowd confronting police officers, who responded with teargas and live bullets to disperse the gathering. Efforts by a local bishop to restore calm were futile as attendees demanded the police vacate the venue.
Addressing the crowd after the incident, Gachagua condemned the chaos, accusing authorities of exacerbating the situation by deploying teargas. “You claim a civilian threw a teargas canister. Where did they get it? The police came here pretending to provide security, yet they are the ones fuelling confusion,” he stated.
Gachagua also alleged that a local Member of Parliament masterminded the disruption, asserting his commitment to continue advocating for Kenyans’ rights despite government persecution.
Senator Methu hinted at a deliberate attempt to sabotage the event due to Gachagua’s attendance. “Some forces wanted this event cancelled, but we are here regardless,” Methu said.
This incident marks the second disruption of Gachagua’s events in recent months. In November, his convoy was attacked with stones and chairs during a Limuru function. Gachagua later alleged an assassination plot against him.
Since his impeachment in October, Gachagua has focused on consolidating support in Central Kenya, positioning himself as a champion for Kenyans’ rights. Despite the setbacks, he vowed to persist in his efforts, accusing the Kenya Kwanza government of targeting him.