‘Stay away from Kenya for now,’ Gachagua tells tourists, investors over insecurity

DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has urged tourists and investors to stay away from Kenya, citing rising insecurity that he blamed squarely on the government.

Speaking on Sunday during a church service at the ACK St. Thomas Cathedral in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga Central Constituency, Gachagua said the country was no longer safe and advised visitors and investors to hold off until next year.

“Our tourists are not safe in our country. There are too many goons. Tourists should suspend their visits until next year,” he said. “Investors should keep away from Kenya. We are telling investors to stay away until next year.”

The remarks came days after his party’s commanding victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, a result Gachagua used to renew his attacks on President William Ruto and to declare that the 2027 General Election would be a straight contest between the President and the Mt Kenya community.

Turning to the Ol Kalou result, Gachagua thanked residents for what he called defending the dignity of the Mt Kenya people, saying the whole country had been waiting to see the political direction the constituency would take.

“Despite all those goodies, they voted for the right candidate,” he said, accusing the government of pouring resources into the campaign. He claimed the President had launched development worth 1.4 billion shillings and that a further 1.2 billion had gone into swaying voters, alleging that one woman had told him she received 90,000 shillings in campaign handouts.

By his own calculation, he claimed, every vote Ruto’s side secured in Ol Kalou had cost about Ksh.3M

“Hiyo ilikuwa rehearsal,” he said, framing the by-election as a preview of 2027. “Uchaguzi ya Ol Kalou ilikuwa mashindano ya William Ruto na community. 2027 will be a contest between William Ruto and the community.”

High Court announces plan to destroy court records between 1975 and 2010

SRC approves new salary structure for civil servants effective July 1

Nairobi projected to overtake Cairo, Lagos by 2050 – Report

KUCCPS introduces instant placement for Form Four leavers applying for university admission

Gachagua pressed his central message of Mt Kenya unity, arguing that the President could only win by splitting the region. He claimed Ruto had enlisted allies, among them Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, to divide the mountain.

“The only way William Ruto comes to power is by dividing the mountain. Once we are united as a mountain, as a community, our votes added to other Kenyans, ataenda nyumbani,” he said. “We cannot divide this mountain. If we are divided, huyu jamaa atarudi.”

He said DCP was the vehicle for that unity and appealed for loyal support, telling the congregation that a committed core of members would carry his cause. “Chama ni DCP,” he said. “Mkinipea wajumbe 100 wale loyal, mtakuwa mmenisaidia.”

Gachagua added that he would take his message across the wider Mt Kenya region once he wrapped up his current engagements, naming Meru and Embu among his next stops.

Gachagua went on to accuse the President of betrayal, claiming he had sacked young people from jobs and deployed goons, and alleged that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen was behind the hired groups.

“Murkomen ndiye anapanga goons,” he charged.

U.S. issues worldwide security advisory

Facebook faces global outage affecting users worldwide

Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital responds to claims of a woman missing kidney after treatment

Kenyan Journalist Elijah Mwangi makes global list after securing CNN Academy Fellowship