Sudden blackout hits ‘Ngemi Cia Watho’ festival in the middle of Gachagua’s speech

A sudden power blackout plunged the ‘Ngemi Cia Watho’ cultural festival into darkness on Saturday night, interrupting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as he addressed guests and spoke about President William Ruto’s political dealings with leaders.

The unexpected outage occurred on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Thika Greens Golf Resort, where the second edition of the cultural and professional festival had brought together lawyers, politicians, entertainers and other invited guests.

Gachagua was in the middle of his speech, discussing how President Ruto had deceived several leaders who had previously worked with him, when the electricity suddenly flickered before the venue went completely dark.

He had just made remarks about the responsibility leaders shared in the political situation, saying, “We all share the blame, and he called all of us. And never again…” before the blackout interrupted the address.

The sudden darkness caught attendees off guard, leaving some murmuring as they tried to establish what had happened. With the venue’s lighting suddenly cut off, guests began switching on their mobile phone torches to illuminate their immediate surroundings.

The interruption briefly changed the atmosphere at the gathering, which had been characterised by music, cultural performances and political conversations throughout the evening.

The festival had been decorated to reflect traditional Gikuyu culture, with brown colours and animal-skin-inspired designs featuring prominently across the venue. The decorations gave the gathering a distinctly traditional appearance, matching its focus on celebrating the community’s heritage.

Gachagua also appeared to have dressed for the occasion, wearing a brown shirt decorated with patterns inspired by traditional weaving. His outfit blended into the event’s cultural theme as he took to the stage to address the gathering.

He attended the festival alongside Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, whose arrival had drawn cheers from guests. The two leaders’ appearance at the same event attracted attention, particularly given their recent political engagements and conversations about cooperation among opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The second edition of Ngemi Cia Watho was held as a cultural and professional festival organised by lawyers and legal professionals from the Mt Kenya region under the GEMA Watho Association.

The event brought together members of the legal fraternity to celebrate their professional achievements, strengthen relationships and reconnect with their cultural heritage. It also provided an opportunity for political leaders and other guests to engage in discussions touching on national affairs.

Unlike conventional legal gatherings, the festival blended professional networking with cultural expression and entertainment, allowing advocates to interact outside the courtroom while celebrating their shared heritage.

The programme also featured live performances, including one by Mugithi artiste KamaNu M’tuamwari, whose appearance added a musical dimension to the celebrations.

Gachagua and Sifuna were among the prominent political figures who attended the gathering, with their presence adding a political dimension to an event that had been organised primarily around culture, professional connections and community identity.

Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on showbiz and human-interest stories. Emails: [email protected], [email protected]

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