Drama is looming amid the upcoming return of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after a section of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) supporters threatened to strip in protest if he is arrested upon his return from a month-long trip to the United States.
During a press conference on Wednesday, August 20, supporters from Embu vowed that they would not allow political intimidation to silence their leader.
Led by the outspoken party supporter Beth Kariuki, the group insisted that Gachagua had every right to return to Kenya without being provoked. Kariuki said that any attempt to detain Gachagua at the airport would be met with fierce resistance from his supporters in Embu County.
“Gachagua is a Kenyan, and he should not be arrested, and if he is arrested, we shall protest as women because we are the ones who know the pain of having a child. You impeached him without reason, and we kept quiet, so if he gets arrested, we shall remove our clothes and protest,’’ one of the supporters said.
The supporters expressed their love for the party leader, and welcomed him to visit Embu immediately he lands in the country.
“Gachagua, we want you in Embu, and immediately after you come to Kenya, we want you to come here first and talk to us,’’ the supporters who were eagerly waiting for Gachagua said.
They added that Gachagua’s anticipated return was a huge moment for the Embu people and his political base nationwide.
The DCP-Embu branch supporters said that the former DP is expected to tour Embu County and drum up support for the DCP candidate in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election.
Kariuki’s sentiments were echoed by John Arimi, an aspiring 2027 Embu Senator under DCP, who also welcomed Gachagua back to the country and called for action over recent sentiments that leaders were paid to impeach Gachagua.
Another supporter, Jasmel Gechini, urged the state to respect the opposition and critics instead of persecuting them.
Thoithi argued that freedom of speech and association are cornerstones of democracy that no regime can trample on.
Former DP Rigathi Gachagua is expected to land in the country on Thursday, August 21, after spending almost two months in the US while drumming up support for his political ambitions.
Several leaders, including Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, had called for his arrest over several sentiments he made while in the US.
