Gachagua Cancels Embu Tour After Protest Deaths and Looting Fallout
Nairobi – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called off a scheduled tour of Embu County following the deadly protests on June 25 that left 16 people dead and more than 400 injured .
In a statement shared on his official social media account on Friday, Gachagua said the decision was made out of respect for the 16 lives lost and the business owners affected during the unrest, which saw looters ransack shops and property destroyed in central business districts.
“It is in solidarity with the young people who lost their lives yesterday and the business community who have lost billions of shillings due to the deafness of this rogue regime that I have stood down my media briefing with Embu media and cancelled my weekend public engagement,” Gachagua said.
The demonstrations, largely organized by Gen Z youth protesting the Finance Bill 2024, spiraled into violence when armed individuals believed to be hired infiltrators turned the streets chaotic. Police opened fire during the protests, triggering widespread condemnation from civil society groups and rights advocates.
Gachagua has since been caught in a political crossfire. Lawmakers allied to the ruling coalition led a motion in Parliament accusing him of inciting violence. National Assembly leaders Kimani Ichung’wah and Junet Mohamed demanded that police investigate Gachagua and his political allies over their role in the protests.
Gachagua has denied the accusations. He claims the government failed to provide adequate protection for peaceful demonstrators and instead resorted to hiring what he called “state-sponsored goons” to undermine the protest movement.
“The government must take responsibility for endangering lives instead of pointing fingers,” Gachagua said in his statement.
The former deputy president has been on a countrywide campaign to rally support for his Democratic Change Party (DCP), which he launched in May. His campaign trail has included stops across Mt. Kenya, Eastern, Meru, and coastal counties, where he is positioning DCP as the lead outfit in a broader opposition coalition targeting the 2027 general election.
Gachagua has framed his movement as a voice for disenfranchised youth and small business owners. However, the events of June 25 have intensified scrutiny of his political ambitions and raised tensions between him and the current administration.
The Embu tour was expected to include town hall engagements and grassroots meetings. A new date has not yet been announced.
