Opposition leaders: How Gachagua dodged arrest at JKIA

Chaos erupted when the DCP Party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, arrived at the JKIA airport on August 21, .2025/EZEKIEL AMING'A

Opposition leaders alleged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua escaped a plot to arrest him shortly after arriving from the US after a six-weeks absence.

They claimed that the plot was thwarted by scores of supporters who had thronged the JKIA to receive him.

"Over 200 police officers had been deployed to arrest our party leader, but thanks to you, our supporters, you protected him," Nyandarua Senator John Methu told a roadside rally at Mombasa Road.

Fears of arrest ostensibly forced Gachagua and his motorcade to cut short their planned procession that would have culminated in the historic Kamkunji grounds.

DCP Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala said that Gachagua was to be arrested over statements he made while in the US.

Malala, while addressing supporters near Vision Plaza on Mombasa Road, asked them to escort the impeached DP to his home.

Some observers, however, believe the low turnout coupled with incidents of hooliganism compelled the opposition leaders to cut short their activities.

While the leaders addressed the crowd, the former Deputy President is said to have changed cars and drove away in an unmarked car towards the southern bypass on his way to his Karen home.

Earlier, there was a scuffle inside JKIA as police and supporters engaged in a push and shove.

At the City Cabanas junction, the team confronted a team of rowdy youths who pelted the motorcade with stones.

Police were forced to lob tear gas canisters at the crowd to pave way for the opposition leaders proceed even as vehicles were damaged and property stolen.

Journalists were among those affected with crew from Cape Media's TV47 and KTN's camera persons being casualties.

Police were heavily deployed along Mombasa Road, JKIA, Kamkunji grounds, and Nairobi’s CBD.

Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Dr Fred Matiangi, Eugene Wamalwa, and their allies were a no-show, unlike in past events such as Raila Odinga's 2017 return from abroad, where the city was brought to a stand still.