The Nairobi Bypass blocked before the Gachagua rally. Chaos turned a normal morning commute into a nightmare for hundreds of drivers near Thogoto and Gitaru. Suspected goons suddenly sealed off the busy road, attacking motorists and robbing them as political tensions boiled over between former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and his rivals.
The trouble started early when the group of young men dragged logs and stones across the highway. They waved sticks and demanded money from anyone trying to pass. Some drivers surrendered cash without resistance, while others faced removal from their vehicles and thorough searches.
One matatu operator said he watched helplessly as the goons smashed a side mirror and took a passenger’s phone. The whole scene lasted until police finally arrived and cleared the blockage by mid-morning. Yet that was only the beginning of a very long and ugly day.
By the time Gachagua reached the rally grounds, the mood had already soured. His supporters came ready to hear him speak, but the air felt thick with anger. Teargas soon filled the area after scuffles broke out between rival groups. People ran in every direction coughing and shielding their eyes.
One woman ended up with a deep cut that looked like a stab wound, though no one could confirm exactly how it happened in the panic. Then came the strangest report of all. Some in the crowd claimed someone released bees into the gathering, causing a wild stampede as people swatted and screamed. The combination of gas stinging eyes and bees buzzing overhead left dozens hurt and many more badly shaken.
Gachagua stood his ground and addressed the crowd anyway. He pointed fingers at what he called ‘state-backed sabotage’ and said the roadblock and later violence were meant to stop him from speaking freely. He used the moment to criticise his opponents, including Kimani Ichung’wah, and warned that Mt Kenya risks losing its voice if old friends keep fighting each other.
His words hit hard because the area used to support the government, but now it feels divided before the 2027 elections. Some people in the audience cheered, but others looked worried about what this new divide means for their daily lives and future chances.
Local businesses paid the heaviest price that day. Shop owners along the bypass watched customers stay away as news of the chaos spread. A small eatery owner near Gitaru said he lost an entire day’s sales because drivers avoided the route completely.
By evening the area had calmed down, but the fear lingered. People who live there said they have seen political tension before, yet the atmosphere felt different because it hit so close to home and disrupted normal life so completely.
The incident has left many Kenyans asking tough questions about how far political rivalry should go. Blocking a major road and transforming a public rally into a battlefield does not resolve issues.
It only makes people more scared and divided. People in Thogoto and Gitaru want their leaders to talk instead of letting young men fight in the streets. They remember when rallies were fun and gave them hope instead of tear gas and bees. They are now worried that the 2027 race will destroy Mt. Kenya before it even starts.
Police have promised to investigate the roadblock and the violence at the rally, but so far no arrests have been announced. Gachagua’s team says they have evidence of planning and want a full probe that reaches the people giving the orders.