Gachagua Says Security Fears Forced Him to Use Probox for Secret Return from US

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he chose an ordinary Probox for his journey from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri because he feared his usual convoy could expose him to danger.

Gachagua, who leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), says he returned to Kenya on October 20 without announcing his arrival or informing even his drivers and security team.

In an interview with Inooro TV on November 1, he said he deliberately avoided photographs and public attention, opting to travel directly to Nyeri rather than spend the night at his Karen home in Nairobi.

“I returned silently. I made sure there were no photos. I got into a Probox car and headed directly to Wamunyoro,” he said.

He added that he landed at about 9pm and reached his Nyeri residence by midnight.

Gachagua said using his familiar vehicles would have made it easier for people tracking his movements to identify and follow him.

“They would have noted my usual convoy,” he said, alleging that people opposed to his political stand had plans to harm him.

The former Deputy President said he also kept the return date from his drivers and security personnel because he feared the information could leak.

A different return after 2025 airport chaos

The decision marks a sharp contrast with Gachagua’s return from an earlier US trip in August 2025.

That homecoming attracted large crowds of supporters at JKIA. The reception later descended into disorder, with groups of people reportedly attacking his convoy along Mombasa Road. Supporters were injured, and a planned public address was disrupted.

Gachagua now says the publicity surrounding that return exposed him to danger. He alleged that people had planned to attack him at the airport and credited God and supporters who shielded him for his safety.

“I told myself, you can’t repeat the same mistake,” he said, explaining why he chose to keep his latest travel plans private.

His claims about an assassination plot have not been independently established. They should be understood as his account of the events, rather than a confirmed finding by investigators.

Witima church attack remains part of security debate

Gachagua also referred to the January 2026 disruption of a church service at St Peter’s ACK Church in Witima, Othaya, Nyeri County, where he and his allies were attending.

Tear gas canisters were thrown into the church during the service, causing panic and damaging vehicles parked within the compound. The National Police Service condemned the incident and said investigations had been opened.

In April, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen told the Senate that investigations were still ongoing. A preliminary report had been submitted, but the inquiry had not been presented as a final determination of responsibility.

The incident has since featured in Gachagua’s account of why he believes he must take precautions over his movements.

Political work continues after US tour

Gachagua spent several weeks in the United States, where he met Kenyans living abroad and held political engagements as opposition leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Although he returned without a public airport reception, his arrival did not remain under wraps for long. He later hosted Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi Movement at Wamunyoro.

The meeting placed him back at the centre of opposition discussions shortly after his return.

His account of the Probox journey offers a glimpse into how he says security concerns are shaping his public and political life. But it also leaves important questions unanswered, including the specific threats he says he received and whether any formal investigations have substantiated them.

For now, Gachagua maintains that keeping his movements private is a necessary precaution as he continues his political activities.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.