Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has described the much-publicized return of former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua from the United States as an “ordinary affair,” urging the public to remain calm.
Speaking on Wednesday during a joint dialogue with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on training and capacity building, Kanja assured Kenyans that the National Police Service is fully in charge of security arrangements at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and does not anticipate any disruption.
“We expect normalcy during his arrival. However, officers are ready to act should there be any attempts to trigger unrest. The safety of Kenyans remains our top priority,” the IG said.
His remarks came a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned that Gachagua’s return on Thursday could pose a threat to national stability.
Murkomen had cautioned that the DCP’s calls for mass mobilisation to welcome the former Deputy President at JKIA could breach security protocols in the restricted airport zone.
“The government will not hesitate to take legal action should the mobilisation degenerate into lawlessness,” Murkomen said.
The statements from both the Interior Ministry and the Police Service underscore the heightened political tension surrounding Gachagua’s comeback after weeks abroad.
