Rigathi Gachagua has stressed his political dominance over the Mount Kenya region, declaring that his heritage as a son of Mau Mau ensures he cannot be intimidated by state force.

Addressing a charged crowd in Kikuyu town during his rally on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Gachagua claimed that he and his allies were met with police violence, including bullets and tear gas, in an attempt to block his entry into the area.

Gachagua dismissed the police actions, challenging local MP Kimani Ichung’wah, whom the former DP claimed had vowed to bar his rally in the constituency.

“Tumekuwa tukija hapa pamoja na akina Kalonzo na akina Matiang’i, lakini polisi wametuvamia kwa risasi na teargas. Hata hivyo, kwa sababu mimi ni mtoto wa Mau Mau, nimeamua lazima niingie Kikuyu,” Gachagua said.

Loosely translate: “We were coming here together with leaders like Kalonzo and Matiang’i, but police have confronted us with bullets and teargas. However, because I am a son of the Mau Mau, I have said I must come to Kikuyu,” Gachagua said.

Operation Fagia

The rally culminated in the announcement of his new initiative, dubbed Operation Fagia, in the region.

Gachagua used the rally to call for a sweep of individuals he characterised as community traitors, explicitly calling for the ousting of leaders associated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“Mimi hapa mlimani nimetangaza operation fagia ya kufagia wasaliti wa jamii yetu. Nikisema harambe mnasema fagia,” Gachagua stated.

Kikuyu Tear gas

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) was on Saturday, April 11, 2026, teargassed in Kikuyu following a heavy standoff with police officers as the opposition team attempted to address a gathering of youth.

Police moved in to contain the situation, blocking key access roads into Kikuyu Town as Gachagua’s supporters remained defiant, chanting party slogans and demanding to be addressed by their leader.

According to videos seen by People Daily, Gachagua and his supporters remained defiant amid the commotion, staying at the same spot where teargas canisters had been lobbed.

Gachagua was seen instructing his supporters to use water to wash off the effects of the teargas smoke.

The commotion followed an earlier disruption along sections of the Southern Bypass and nearby roads in Kiambu County, where groups blocked highways, lit bonfires using tyres and placed trailers across the road.

Traffic was paralysed at Thogoto and Gitaru, affecting motorists travelling to and from Nairobi’s western corridor.