Gachagua, Ichung'wah clash over alleged plans to disrupt Kikuyu rally

Tension has been building in Kikuyu constituency following mutual accusations from both the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and area MP Kimani Ichung’wa over the planned disruption of Gachagua’s rally today.

The two leaders have accused each other of plots to mobilise goons in a bid to cause chaos and mayhem and then blame each other, with reports indicating that the mobilisation of the goons has been conducted ahead of today’s rally, which will also include other Opposition leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka.

Sources indicate that the goons were mobilised yesterday in Thogoto, Gikambura and Nachu areas within Kikuyu Constituency with instructions to disrupt the political rally.

“They were paid Sh1,000 each, while the riders were promised to have their motorbikes fueled. This has caused tension, especially in Kikuyu town, where Gachagua is expected to address his supporters,” a source who requested anonymity said.

Yesterday, Gachagua wrote to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja raising concerns over a planned disruption of his meeting and accused Ichung’wah of being the mastermind of the planned attacks.

“Ichung'wah has made direct, veiled threats targeting our meeting. On March 25, 2026, while attending a function at Alliance High School grounds, and in the presence of the Deputy President, a member of the National Security Council, Kimani said that "...if Rigathi is circumcised, tell him to come to Kikuyu..." a letter signed by Gachagua read in part.

The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader questioned Kanja why the National Police Service had not summoned Ichung’wah to shed more light on his admission that he was privy to crimes that may be committed.

“We have intelligence and confirmation from the ground that pursuant to his proclamations, the MP  is organising violence with goons and the police. The organised goons are to create mayhem, vandalise people's businesses, attack targeted establishments in order to trigger the police who will join in by using teargas and ammunition in veiled intervention but in reality, the police will be stepping in as back up to the goons with an aim of scuttling our meeting,” Gachagua alleged.

Gachagua further claimed that the MP had planned to block main roads in and out of Kikuyu town by stalling heavy vehicles across the highways with an excuse of mechanical breakdowns in order to block their access to the venue while making attacks on their convoy easier.

“On April 9 at 10 am in Kentmere Club on Limuru Road, a meeting by senior administration officers and policemen was held to plan the disruption,” Gachagua said while naming six senior police officers within Kiambu county who he claimed were present in the meeting.

While urging the police to secure his meeting, Gachagua said Kanja, Ichung’wah and police commanders in Kiambu county should be held liable and responsible for any violence that may occur in the course of his political tour.

“I have held successful meetings in other areas within Kiambu. What makes Kikuyu town special and predisposed to violence? Kikuyu Town is part of Kenya and does not operate on a separate set of laws outside of the laws that govern this Country, unless  Ichung'wah is the law by which Kikuyu Constituency operates. 

However, Ichung’wah dismissed the claims and instead claimed that it was Gachagua who was mobilising goons from Kia Maina, Kayole and Githuari areas to cause violence in Kikuyu town.

“Kikuyu is part and parcel of Kenya. We welcome everybody to our constituency to engage with the people of Kikuyu. What we oppose is you ferrying goons from Githurai, from Kayole to come and loot businesses in Kikuyu town. That we will make sure that the police protect the businesses of the people of Kikuyu.

The Majority Leader of the National Assembly associated Gachagua with the violence that was witnessed in Kikuyu in June 2024 and alleged that he was the mastermind of the attacks that left his Kikuyu National Government Constituency Development Fund offices reduced to ashes.

“He is someone who is living in perpetual fear of the unknown. I heard him the other day saying that I organised goons who burnt my offices. I dare ask you to ask him how I would have organised goons to go burn my own house to go murder my own parents? He works with reverse psychology,” Ichung’wa said.