Makau Mutua criticises Gachagua’s homecoming
By Cynthia Lodite, August 22, 2025Prof. Makau Mutua has highly criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s homecoming while branding it as underwhelming and chaotic.
Makau Mutua, in a critique statement on Friday, August 22, 2025, shared on his official X account, downplayed the significance of the event, contrasting it with the previous political stance of Raila Odinga back in 2020.
“A GRAND homecoming is supposed to be star-studded, exhilarating, historic, and a political earthquake. Like Baba’s in 2020. Yesterday’s pained, chaotic affair was a DUD. An imbroglio,” Mutua noted.
On his part, Makau went further to mock Gachagua’s political strategy, suggesting that the former deputy president lacked the organisational depth to pull off a true show of force, while further adding that he should go back to America and plan a proper hero’s return.
“A complete flop. Methinks the man from Mathira needs to go back to America and plan a proper hero’s return!” Mutua wrote.
Gachagua’s chaotic return
Notably, Makau Mutua’s remarks follow Gachagua’s chaotic return to the country after an almost two-month stay in the United States of America.
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, hundreds of his supporters thronged Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to welcome him back; however, what was meant to be a triumphant return quickly descended into violent chaos.
Despite a heavy police presence surrounding the airport, supporters blocked one of the international arrival gates—much to the surprise of arriving tourists, overwhelming officers.
At the time, Chants of “Wantam,” a popular anti-Ruto slogan coined by Gachagua, meaning “one term,” filled the air as he left JKIA in a large convoy.
His cavalcade drew thousands waiting outside the airport, causing heavy traffic jams, with supporters clashing with opponents as the convoy used one of Nairobi’s main highways from the airport.
Groups of young men and motorbike riders hurled stones at his motorcade in a chaotic melee that police attempted to disperse with tear gas.
An AFP photographer witnessed several people wounded during the violence.
The clashes followed another warning from Murkomen that security services should prepare for a “chaotic environment as a result of his coming back to the country.”
Gachagua cut short his trip to the United States, where he had been promoting his political party and mobilising voters before the 2027 vote, to campaign for the upcoming local by-elections.
“Thank you, my great people of Kenya, for the love. I am happy to be back home,” he posted on X.