Credible sources within Kenya’s political establishment have disclosed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, currently in the United States for a two-month visit, is allegedly orchestrating a fundraising campaign to finance future disruptions of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests. Gachagua, who arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on July 9, 2025, with his wife, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, has publicly framed his trip as an opportunity to engage the Kenyan diaspora on matters of national importance.
However, insiders allege that his true objective is to secure substantial funds to sustain and escalate the infiltration of Kenya’s youth-led demonstrations, which have been a hallmark of public dissent since June 2024.
According to well-placed sources, Gachagua’s plan involves channeling funds to hire goons to infiltrate the largely peaceful protests, which have galvanized Kenyan youth demanding economic reforms, transparency, and accountability from President William Ruto’s administration.
The former deputy president, impeached in October 2024, is reportedly leveraging his extensive networks in the U.S. to court undisclosed financiers willing to back his agenda. The ultimate goal, sources claim, is to orchestrate chaos within the demonstrations, particularly by targeting Kikuyu-owned businesses in the Mt. Kenya region and attributing the resulting violence to government-sponsored attacks. This strategy, insiders suggest, is designed to inflame ethnic tensions and rally political support in Gachagua’s stronghold, positioning him as a defender of the Kikuyu community against perceived state aggression.
Dr. Elizabeth Mwangi, a Nairobi-based political analyst, warns that such maneuvers, if substantiated, could irreparably damage the credibility of the Gen Z movement.
“The youth have sustained a powerful, non-partisan push for systemic change. Any attempt to co-opt their protests for political gain risks derailing their momentum and deepening ethnic fault lines,” she said. On X, sentiments are unified, with youths expressing optimism that Gachagua’s absence may allow the protests to regain their peaceful focus. “Two months without Gachagua could mean a breather for Kenya. Let’s hope the youth’s voice remains untainted,” one user posted.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is reportedly intensifying its probe into Gachagua’s alleged role in earlier protest-related unrest, though no conclusive findings have been released. The government, meanwhile, has called for calm and urged Kenyans to reject divisive rhetoric. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen emphasized, “We are committed to protecting the right to protest while ensuring that no one exploits these demonstrations to sow discord.”
As Gachagua’s U.S. sojourn continues, Kenya stands at a critical juncture. The Gen Z protests, a beacon of youth-led activism, face the risk of being hijacked by political machinations. With the former deputy president’s return expected in September 2025, the nation watches closely, hopeful that his absence will usher in a period of relative calm and renewed focus on the youth’s demands for a better future.
