Former Deputy President and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua returned to Kenya on Thursday, August 21, 2025, to a fervent welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after a 43-day U.S. diaspora tour.

Hundreds of supporters, including Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala and Senator John Methu, thronged the airport despite the heightened security presence.

The charged reception highlighted his strong base within the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), even after his impeachment in October 2024 following a fallout with President William Ruto.

The heavy deployment of anti-riot police underscored the government’s cautious stance, following Gachagua’s controversial remarks abroad linking President Ruto to extremist groups—claims that fuelled speculation of an arrest plot.

Gachagua is expected to lead a procession to Kamukunji Grounds.

Tight security and tensions

Authorities deployed water cannons and anti-riot trucks near the airport in anticipation of possible unrest. Despite the visible show of force, Gachagua’s arrival unfolded without major disruption, though the deployment highlighted the polarised climate.

DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala disclosed that the party had anticipated attempts to frustrate Gachagua’s homecoming. He said that President William Ruto’s administration considered diverting Gachagua’s plane to Kisumu or Mombasa. In response, DCP mobilised supporters in those areas to prepare for a possible reception.

Opposition agenda

Speaking on a local television station, Malala went beyond logistics, outlining DCP’s broader strategy against the government. He revealed the party is compiling a dossier on alleged extrajudicial killings and illegal detentions, which it intends to present to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Malala further accused President Ruto of gross human rights violations, saying the party would petition the United Nations to block him from addressing global human rights platforms. He also announced a plan to collect 10 million signatures in support of the campaign, signalling a full-scale opposition movement aimed at internationalising domestic grievances.

Homecoming

Gachagua’s return, following a one-month tour of the United States, has been framed as more than a personal homecoming. The jubilant airport scenes, combined with DCP’s political messaging, underline an attempt to position him as a rallying point for discontent against the administration.