Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said he slipped back into Kenya quietly after nearly two months in the United States. He told a vernacular television station that he feared for his life. The Star and Nairobi Wire both reported the interview.
Gachagua landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on October 20 at about 9pm. He did not spend the night at his Karen home in Nairobi. Instead, he got into a Probox and headed for Wamunyoro, Nyeri, arriving by midnight. "I returned silently. I made sure there were no photos," he said.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader said he left his usual convoy behind on purpose. He claimed security agencies and his political rivals would have spotted it and tracked him. He said he told no one about his travel plans, not even his drivers and security guards. He feared the details would leak.
The quiet arrival was a sharp contrast to his 2025 homecoming. Back then, large crowds of supporters packed the airport to welcome him. Gachagua said that publicity exposed him to danger. "There were plans to harm me. Many goons were sent. It is God who saved my life," he said. He added that he would not repeat the same mistake.
Gachagua also pointed to the attack at Witima Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Othaya, Nyeri. Armed individuals invaded the church during a service he was attending with his allies. He said the incident is one reason he now takes more care over his movements.
In the US, Gachagua met Kenyans living abroad. They discussed several issues, including the Opposition's preparations for the 2027 General Election. He said he will keep his whereabouts and travel plans private as he continues his political activities ahead of the vote. The sources carry no response from security agencies or the government to his claims.