Democratic for Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has warned that supporters of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua might protest and cause disruptions during the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) if the government dares to apprehend him upon his return.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Citizen on Monday, August 18, Malala claimed that the chaos will ensue on Friday, which might, in turn, prevent fans from attending the CHAN quarter-finals in Kasarani.
Malala further argued that detaining Gachagua, especially at a time when Kenya is in the global spotlight due to the ongoing football tournaments, will tarnish the president's reputation on the international stage.
"If you apprehend Rigathi Gachagua the following day, you will see demonstrations, and yet the Harambee Stars will be playing on Friday, because I'm sure that if Gachagua is apprehended, we will not be able to see the Harambee Stars play on Friday for the quarter finals," Malala said.
"If Gachagua is apprehended for even a single day, Thika Road will be impassable and there will be chaos, which will prevent people from watching the games. You cannot apprehend Gachagua and then the country keeps quiet," he said.
Malala, who criticised the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for demanding a statement from Gachagua regarding his recent controversial remarks, stated that the former Deputy President will either choose to issue the statement to the International Criminal Court or the Senate.
"Gachagua is being threatened with apprehension because he claimed that some government officials were meeting with RFT and Al-Shabaab, which is true, and the evidence is there. If they really want Gachagua to record a statement, he will either issue it at the senate or the ICC," Malala claimed.
Responding to Gachagua's claims that senior government officials met with Al-Shabaab in Mandera, Murkomen, in a press briefing on Monday, August 11, claimed that the former DP will be required to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations upon his return to the country.
"It's no longer a joke who the former Deputy President is at the moment; most of you share posts of his messages and so forth, you are the ones who are encouraging a person who is unwell to continue saying more things that are going to hurt our country," Murkomen said.
Murkomen further warned Kenyans against sharing videos of Gachagua on social media, stressing that they might compromise the country's political, social, and security stability.
In a statement on Thursday, August 14, Gachagua confirmed that he has cut short his United States tour to make preparations for the upcoming by-elections. Gachagua is expected to be in the country on Thursday, August 21.
"I had a very successful and fulfilling visit to the United States of America with serious engagements with Kenyans in the Diaspora. I regret being unable to visit the scheduled remaining States since I need to get back home to join our party, DCP, in preparation for the upcoming By-Elections in various parts of our country," Gachagua stated.
On his part, Malala has affirmed that his supporters will flood the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday to welcome him back to the country.
