Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, May 19, 2025, revealed that he is protected by civilian licensed firearm holders.

Addressing the press alongside his allies, the former DP indicated that he constituted the said team to escort him, claiming that the decision was informed by the government’s move to withdraw security around him.

Gachagua defended the move, noting that it was done within the confines of the law. Gachagua, who decried attempts to eliminate him, further denied claims that his team carries around illegal firearms.

“I am a licensed firearm holder. I have been licensed as a firearm holder since 1995. Officers who help me are licensed firearm holders within the provisions of the law,” he stated.

“We don’t carry any illegal weapons. In this country, civilians are allowed to have firearms and since the government withdrew security around me, and there has been so many attacks against me it was my responsibility to put up a team of civilian firearm holders to escort me around and there is nothing that is illegal, and there is nothing that is wrong,” he added.

Chaos at his party launch

Gachagua was compelled to react to the question where a journalist asked him whether officers who were captured firing in the air were licensed. The uninformed security officers were recorded firing in the air to disperse a group of rowdy youth who had planned to distract the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) launch.

However, Gachagua insisted that the security officers are licensed.

Some of the goons who were cornered during the ensuing melee were assaulted even as party officials were whisked to safety. A section of journalists were also caught up in the melee.

During the event, Gachagua, who is the party leader, named Cleophas Malala as the interim Deputy Party leader, while David Mingati was named as Chairperson.

Other politicians who were named in the party leadership include former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi as the National Organising Secretary, Former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru as the National Women’s Leader and Former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi as the Deputy Party chair of strategy.

While claiming that there are plans to eliminate him, he challenged security officers to arrest him if he had committed any offense.

Gachagua: If the government knows that I've committed a crime known under the laws of Kenya and identified in the penal code, they know all my homes and I'm here, let them come and if I've committed a crime, arrest me.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/LN7j9kDIRu

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) May 19, 2025