The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has warned of an alleged state-backed plot to abduct former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua upon his return from the United States.

In a statement on Thursday, August 14, DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala highlighted arrest threats issued by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.

He further claimed that the party had received intelligence indicating a possible assassination attempt.

“While our Party Leader was abroad forging a path for democratic renewal, the regime was hatching a dangerous and cold-blooded plot. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen have shamelessly issued public threats to arrest H.E. Gachagua upon arrival.

“Intelligence reaching us points to a scheme so evil, so cowardly, that it chills the soul: their intent is to subject him to slow and silent assassination by poisoning – the very same cruel method once inflicted on the late Kenneth Matiba while in state custody. This is not hearsay. It is a deliberate plot to silence the voice of the people by physically destroying its leader,” the statement read.

According to Malala, the alleged plan involves intercepting Gachagua at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and placing him under house arrest.

“Their plan upon his arrival at JKIA is to abduct, intimidate, brutalize and eventually place him under house arrest, cut him off from his supporters, and deny him the right to address the nation. 

“They want to kill his voice and his body at the same time. But let this be clear: if they dare lay a hand on him, the country will grind to a halt,” the statement continued.

The party warned that unlike during Gachagua’s impeachment, this time, any attempt to silence its leader would be met with strong resistance.

“They did this during his impeachment. He responded by asking his supporters to stand down and protest by singing melodies, but this time round, let the plotters know that the song is different, the rhythm tougher, and we will turn it into a cacophony of defiance. There comes a time when enough has to be enough, and that time is now,” the statement added. 

DCP also accused the government of planning to divert Gachagua’s flight to other airports to prevent him from making a public address upon his arrival.

“Nelson Koech, Chair of the National Assembly Defence Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, has revealed another calculated provocation: a plan to divert H.E. Gachagua’s flight to Mombasa or Kisumu International Airport so that they deny him an opportunity to give a much-anticipated address to the nation. 

“This disruptive plan by a paranoid regime will not only disrupt the travel plans of innocent passengers but also risk damaging Kenya’s foreign relations,” the statement further read.

DCP called on supporters to turn out in large numbers at JKIA and other airports should Gachagua’s flight be diverted.

“Our message is simple: we will not be intimidated. If they divert the plane, our supporters in Kisumu and Mombasa will turn those airports into oceans of DCP colours and defiance. 

“We are calling upon our supporters in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa to turn up in unprecedented numbers. This is not just a welcome – it is a statement to the world that Kenya belongs to her people, not to a clique of power-hungry men who weaponise the state against its citizens,” the statement concluded.

Earlier Thursday, Gachagua announced that he would be cutting short his US tour to return to the country to prepare for the upcoming by-elections. 

“I regret being unable to visit the scheduled remaining States since I need to get back home to join our party, DCP, in preparation for the upcoming By-Elections in various parts of our country,” he said.