Drama as woman thanks Murkomen after threat to strip naked in protest over Gachagua’s return
Beth Kariuki, a prominent grassroots mobilizer from Embu, has publicly thanked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for his role in averting what she described as a potential arrest of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua upon his return from the United States.
Kariuki’s statement came on Thursday, August 21, 2025, just days after she threatened to strip naked in protest if any action was taken against Gachagua upon landing.
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“We thank CS Murkomen for stepping in and assuring us that no harm will come to Gachagua at the airport. His intervention gave us peace of mind and stopped us from going ahead with our planned protest,” she said.
Speaking passionately during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 20, Kariuki led a group of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) supporters from Embu who warned that any attempt to harass or detain Gachagua at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) would be met with dramatic resistance.
The women declared their readiness to strip naked as a traditional and powerful act of defiance, signalling deep outrage and frustration over what they perceive as political injustice against their leader.
“We were ready to strip naked, a sacred and powerful tradition, to show our outrage if our leader was humiliated upon arrival,” she said.
“Gachagua has suffered enough political injustice. He deserves to come home with dignity, without fear or intimidation. Our people across Mt Kenya are watching.”
According to Kariuki and her supporters, Gachagua has endured unfair political treatment and deserves a peaceful and dignified return home. They view his arrival not just as a personal comeback but as a symbolic moment of political reawakening for his base across Mt. Kenya.
She said that Murkomen intervened behind the scenes to ensure the former deputy president would not face harassment or detention at the airport.
In her latest remarks, Kariuki praised Murkomen, saying his assurance gave them peace of mind and convinced the group to call off their planned protest. She accused some senior officials of attempting to frustrate Gachagua’s political resurgence but expressed confidence that justice and fairness would prevail.
The DCP supporters also invited Gachagua to prioritise a visit to Embu immediately after his return, emphasising that the region remains a stronghold of support for him and the party. They revealed that the former DP’s tour would include rallying support for the DCP candidate in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election.
