Gachagua Amlia Ruto, Says He Told The Police Not To Appear At The DCP Meeting In Kakamega

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua missed the Kakamega general meeting after his travel arrangements fell through
Gachagua and his team claimed officials blocked multiple flight options, forcing last-minute cancellations and canceling his trip.
Supporters of the DCP leader waited for hours before former senator Cleophas Malala revealed why the party leader would not be seen.
Gachagua later addressed the crowd by phone, saying all the flights he paid for were canceled and refunded

Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP) Rigathi Gachagua became the center of a political storm after he failed to attend a much-anticipated meeting in Kakamega.

Gachagua’s allies claimed that Ruto’s government conspired to stop him from going to Western Kenya. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua.
Source: Facebook

This happened while his party was accusing the government of Kenya First under President William Ruto for blocking his journey from Nairobi.

The former vice president was expected in Kisa Mashariki for a thanksgiving ceremony on Friday, December 5, in honor of DCP’s Aduda Okwiri, who won the ward’s MCA seat in the November 27 by-election.

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It was heralded as a demonstration of the party’s growing influence in the West, attracting hundreds of supporters who waited for hours hoping their party leader would join them.

Why did Gachagua miss the DCP event in Kakamega?

But as the show continued into the afternoon without any sign of Gachagua, tension rose in the crowd, falling to the deputy leader of the DCP party and former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala to reveal the news, Gachagua would not come.

“You see we are late; we were supposed to start at eleven o’clock. But we waited and waited until it was four o’clock, and we decided to come and explain why he didn’t show up,” Malala said.

Malala told the meeting that the former vice president’s travel arrangements had been disrupted since he woke up, claiming that officials had issued orders to prevent him from flying out of the capital.

According to Malala, Gachagua had booked a helicopter for his early morning trip to Kakamega, but the company canceled the flight after receiving warnings that they were in danger of losing government business.

“They went and threatened the owner of the helicopter company, saying the government would deny them business. Then the helicopter refused to take Gachagua,” the former MP said.

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He claimed the second helicopter, a party leader he booked, was declared “faulty,” forcing him to seek a refund that was promised the following Tuesday.

Faced with the options of chartering damaged aircraft, Gachagua tried to switch to a commercial fixed-wing aircraft that was headed Poisonous.

But Malala said the pilot later claimed the Kisumu route was very congested due to the many funerals of prominent people in the area.

Did Gachagua get a chance to address the people of Kakamega?

As time passed, the DCP team explored an alternative route: landing at Matulo airport in Webuye, where the party had sent vehicles to receive Gachagua. But when they arrived, Malala said they were informed that the airport was closed.

By the time the rally began, Malala told her supporters, it was clear that Gachagua would not make it to Western Kenya.

He further claimed that police officers had been sent from various sub-counties in Vihiga and concentrated in Khwisero, allegedly expecting the arrival of Gachagua.

Rigathi Gachagua/Malala — Malala said the former DP was looking forward to the event. Photo: DCP.
Source: Facebook

Moments later, Kiambu senator Karungo wa Thang’wa called Gachagua and put him on the microphone so he could address supporters directly.

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In the call, Gachagua regretted missing the event and briefly mentioned the disappointment of transportation that made him unable to come.

He kept his words short but to the point, telling the crowd that all the flights he had paid for were cancelled, although he had been refunded.

“My people, greetings. Are you safe, cousin? I wanted to come there, but I had travel problems. All the flights I had paid for were canceled and the money was returned, but it’s okay,” Gachagua said.

Why did Atwoli warn Gachagua, Malala?

In a related report, the COTU boss Francis Atwoli he responded strongly to Malala and Gachagua’s allies after claiming that the recent by-election in East Kisa Ward marked a blow to his political influence.

Atwoli said the claims were “ridiculous,” stressing that his actual home ward is different. He claimed the by-election had nothing to do with him.

In a short video message, Atwoli rejected suggestions that he had lost his seat in Kakamega, warning that by 2027 he would block Malala’s rise in Western Kenya and thwart Gachagua’s national aspirations.