Chaos ensued at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's party launch in Lavington, Nairobi County, after suspected goons attempted to interfere with the events.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, took place moments after Gachagua's entourage left the venue of the event alongside other senior Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) officials.
However, police officers who were on high alert quickly intervened and began shooting into the air to disperse the crowd, which had gathered to witness the former DP's exit.
Videos of the incident obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed a person believed to be a police officer holding a gun and shooting at the air as the crowd rushed towards the gate.
"Remove the vehicle!" An armed individual who is suspected to be one of Gachagua's bodyguards could be heard shouting as the crowd forced itself through the congested exit.
During the occurrence, the former DP's fleet was forced to temporarily stop as the police intensified their efforts to quell the chaos. However, after about five minutes, the tensions subsided.
Gachagua, on Thursday, May 15, formally launched his long-anticipated Democracy for the Citizens Party alongside his political allies at the party headquarters in Nairobi.
In a puzzling move that caught the attention of many, the former DP was the first to take the podium to unveil the party. He reiterated the party's goal, which is "listening to the people".
"We finally have a political party that listens to the people. Our party slogan is 'Please, listen to Kenyans," the former DP said, urging leaders to always listen to the plights of Kenyans.
The new party symbols include a neon green and white emblem with an engraving of 'Skiza Wakenya' and a logo depicting fingers holding on to an ear.
While making the announcement, Gachagua appointed former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala as the party deputy and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi as National Organising Secretary.
"We believed as a party that every Kenyan must be heard by their leaders. The listening must not just be for the sake of it," the former DP reiterated.
