Teargas, gunshots rock Kikuyu rally as Gachagua clashes with Ichung’wah
A planned opposition rally in Kikuyu town descended into chaos on Saturday after police lobbed teargas and fired shots to disperse crowds, forcing leaders led by Rigathi Gachagua to turn back.
The rally, part of a nationwide tour by opposition figures, had drawn large crowds before anti-riot police moved in, scattering supporters and triggering panic in the town.
Witnesses said teargas canisters were fired into the crowd as people fled in different directions, with some sustaining injuries in the stampede.
One injured supporter was rushed to hospital on a boda boda by members of the public.
The confrontation comes amid rising political tensions between Mr Gachagua and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, who had earlier warned of possible chaos linked to the opposition visit.
Mr Gachagua later accused the government of using force to block his political activities, linking the disruption to what he described as intolerance to dissent.
“The use of police, live ammunition and teargas cannot stop an idea whose time has come,” he said.
He also launched a direct attack on President William Ruto and Mr Ichung’wah, describing them as 'political cowards' and accusing them of attempting to intimidate voters.
Despite the disruption, Mr Gachagua insisted the political momentum would continue.
In response, Mr Ichung’wah issued a strong warning, linking the violence to political accountability.
“Any leader who thinks they can cause the kind of violence we have seen in Kikuyu today and get away with it is greatly mistaken. No one, including Gachagua, is above the law,” he said.
On his part, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna criticised the use of force, saying the country should embrace political competition based on ideas rather than violence.
“We want a contest of ideas, not a contest of goons,” he said.
The standoff follows earlier morning incidents in which sections of the Southern Bypass near Kikuyu were blocked using burning tyres and heavy vehicles, paralysing movement and raising fears of planned disruption.
The developments show escalating tensions ahead of the 2027 political contest, with rival camps trading accusations over the events in Kikuyu.
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