Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua speaking in Nyeri on August 23, 2026 / HANDOUT
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has released the itinerary for Rigathi Gachagua’s upcoming US tour, which will take him through five cities over more than a month.
Gachagua is scheduled to leave Kenya on Wednesday evening for the extended stay, which he has linked to his desire to make political decisions away from what he described as undue influence from his associates.
He said he would be accompanied by his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, and would remain in the US for a prolonged period.
“And I will stay for a while so take care of home,” Gachagua said while addressing worshippers during a church service on Sunday, August 23.
"I will stay for a while and there is a reason, there are things I'm planning that cannot be planned here."
Gachagua said the time away from his political associates would give him space to reflect and make decisions with an independent mind.
“When I'm here there's a lot of influence - Kaguchia tells me this, Methu that; this pulls me one way, this the other way. I want to make decisions without undue influence,” he said.
According to the itinerary released by DCP, Gachagua will begin his political engagements in Spokane, Washington, on September 4 and remain there until September 10.
Spokane, in eastern Washington, lies about 20 miles west of the Idaho border and along the Spokane River.
The city has a political history that includes civil rights activism and the work of Carl Maxey, a trailblazing attorney who challenged racial discrimination in housing and employment and in 1968 became the first Black major-party candidate for the US Senate from Washington.
The city also has a more troubled political history. The Ku Klux Klan gained a foothold in eastern Washington during the 1920s and 1930s before declining amid public opposition and internal scandals.
From Spokane, Gachagua will travel to Portland, Oregon, where he is scheduled to stay from September 10 to September 16.
Portland has for decades been associated with progressive urban politics, environmental activism and civil rights movements.
It also became a major centre of protests over racial justice and police brutality following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
Gachagua will then travel to Kansas, where he is scheduled to spend eight days from September 16 to September 24.
Kansas sits within a region that has played an important role in America's political history. It in particular, became a major battleground in the struggle over slavery in the years preceding the American Civil War.
The violent confrontations known as “Bleeding Kansas” helped shape the politics that preceded the emergence of the Republican Party in 1854.
From Kansas, Gachagua will head to Dallas, Texas, where he will spend eight days from September 24 to October 1.
Dallas is a major economic centre in the US and a prominent venue for political fundraising, conventions and national policy debates.
The city is also part of the wider Sun Belt, a region where business-oriented and conservative politics have traditionally held significant influence.
Gachagua’s final stop will be Boston, Massachusetts, where he is scheduled to stay from October 1 to October 9.
Boston is deeply associated with the history of the American Revolution and has evolved into a major centre of liberal politics, academia and public policy.
The city is home to leading universities and research institutions whose scholars and policy experts have long contributed to national debates on governance, education, healthcare and labour.
Speaking at the church service, Gachagua said he would interact with Americans from different backgrounds during his stay as he takes time to consider what he described as critical political decisions.
The US tour comes at the conclusion of his 55-day Wamunyoro political conclave, which has been part of his efforts to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua has positioned himself as a candidate seeking to be the “king” rather than a kingmaker in the next presidential contest.
He has maintained that he is the strongest among the opposition-aligned principals to challenge President William Ruto at the ballot, but has at the same time said he would be willing to support another candidate if a stronger contender emerges.
