Rigathi Gachagua’s tour of Nakuru took an unexpected turn on Friday after his convoy was attacked in Nakuru Town West, leaving several vehicles damaged.
The former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader was touring the county when a group of people reportedly pelted his motorcade with stones.
Images from the scene showed several Land Cruisers with shattered windscreens and damaged rear windows, highlighting the intensity of the attack.
The incident has immediately reignited the political debate over violence at rallies, with Gachagua’s allies accusing the government of failing to protect opposition leaders.
DCP leaders condemn attack
Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara was among the first politicians to condemn the incident.
Kihara questioned why rival political groups would resort to violence instead of competing politically for the support of Kenyans.
She argued that politicians have a constitutional right to conduct political activities freely and that the police have a responsibility to provide security during public engagements.
The MP went further, alleging that some of the people involved in the violence were linked to the Nakuru government.
Those claims, however, have not been independently established.
Gachagua’s team was on a busy Nakuru tour
The attack happened during a packed programme for the DCP leader.
Gachagua’s team had started the day in Naivasha, where it officially opened a DCP party office.
The tour then moved through Gilgil, before the team proceeded to Soko Mjinga in Nakuru Town West and later Kanu House in Nakuru Town East for further public engagements.
It was during the Nakuru Town West leg of the tour that the convoy came under attack.
The damage to the vehicles has since become one of the main talking points from the visit.
Political blame game intensifies
The incident comes at a particularly tense moment in Kenya’s politics.
Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the government of using organised groups to disrupt their political meetings, while government officials have rejected such accusations.
The latest confrontation is therefore likely to add fuel to an already bitter political exchange.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said security agencies will take firm action against anyone involved in political violence.
Murkomen said the National Police Service had been instructed to arrest people responsible for causing chaos during political events.
Another test for political tolerance
For Gachagua and his supporters, the Nakuru incident is more than just damage to a few vehicles.
It comes at a time when the DCP leader is working to strengthen his political network across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Nakuru, in particular, is politically significant, making public engagements in the county closely watched by both the opposition and government camps.
The incident also raises fresh questions about the safety of political leaders and their supporters as the country moves deeper into the next election cycle.
For now, the big question is who was behind the attack and whether anyone will be held responsible.
Authorities have yet to publicly identify those responsible, while Gachagua’s allies continue to demand answers.
What is clear, however, is that the events in Nakuru have added another uncomfortable chapter to Kenya’s increasingly heated political season.
