Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has explained his viral shooting-range video, saying he resumed firearms and basic combat training in the United States because of what he described as growing insecurity in Kenya.
Speaking in Spokane, Washington, on Sunday, September 6, Gachagua said he last trained in weaponry and basic combat skills in 1990 but had decided to resume the practice.
He said the security situation in Kenya had prompted him to sharpen his skills and teach his wife the basics of handling firearms.
“I’m taking time now when I’m here. I went for training in 1990 on weaponry and basic combat skills. So I’m taking time here to do some bit of weaponry, some bit of basic combat skills,” he said.
“And I’m also trying to teach my wife the basics. I know now, these goons, they can accost anybody.”
Gachagua’s remarks came days after a video showing him handling a firearm and firing at targets at a shooting range in Spokane went viral on social media, sparking concern among Kenyans.
He said his decision to resume shooting practice was partly driven by what he described as security challenges surrounding political activities in Kenya.
“The most difficult part is to stay alive. Tusiumizwe na goons. Hiyo ndiyo kazi ile iko mbele yetu,” Gachagua said.
He also criticised the country’s security situation, saying Kenyans could no longer easily distinguish between police officers and what he described as goons.
“Again, the sad part, the sad part, you can capture the state and steal everything. But the sad part is insecurity in the country. The country has been taken over by goons. You cannot tell the difference between police and goons. They are the same,” he said.
Gachagua backs Sifuna
Gachagua also used his Spokane address to outline his political plans ahead of the 2027 General Election, maintaining that the opposition must unite behind a single candidate to defeat President William Ruto.
He said he was willing to deputise Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna if opposition leaders determined that the pairing offered the best chance of defeating Ruto.
“It is actually easier to support Sifuna than to support Ruto. One, Sifuna is my cousin. Two, Sifuna has no bad issues,” he said.
Gachagua also used the engagement to promote his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), describing it as “a party of the moment and the future”.
He said the party’s slogan was “listening to the ground and to the people”, arguing that leaders who listen to citizens cannot go wrong.
“And let me tell you, if you listen to the people, you can never go wrong. Because people are your bosses. They must tell you how they want to be governed,” he said.
Gachagua said DCP’s colour was green, which he associated with prosperity, adding that the party wanted a country where hard work was rewarded.
“Green is prosperity. We want a prosperous nation,” Gachagua said.
