Rigathi Gachagua’s much-hyped return from the US yesterday collapsed into humiliation, exposing the emptiness of a man who claims to speak for the entire Mt Kenya region.
Marketed by his deputy Cleophas Malala as the “majestic walk of the king,” the JKIA-to-Kamukunji procession promised tens of thousands. Instead, only a few hundred showed up—many boda boda riders and alleged hired crowds.
The spectacle quickly turned chaotic, with pushing, shoving and near-stampede scenes. At one point, Gachagua’s cap was nearly snatched as he ducked out, abandoning his rally.
The optics were disastrous. Vehicles outnumbered people. His convoy was stoned along Mombasa Road, forcing police to lob tear gas. Behind the flop, aspirants whispered of yet another cash grab—money raised for mobilisation allegedly vanishing before the show.
For a man who insists he is the undisputed spokesperson of Mt Kenya, the irony was glaring: if he could not manage a simple homecoming, how can he claim to unite or lead an entire region?
The debacle capped a 43-day American tour that yielded no diplomatic gains. Instead, Gachagua’s fiery rants abroad—accusing President Ruto of links to terrorism—left him isolated.
His return, meant to signal defiance, ended in disgrace.
Once famed for tribal mobilisation and money-fuelled optics, Gachagua is discovering that Kenyans have moved on. His so-called “movement for revival” is faltering, his political crown slipping.
Yesterday may go down as the day Mt Kenya’s self-proclaimed “king” returned to find his throne empty.
