By Bonface Mulyungi
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has praised the Kenyan community in Peterborough, United Kingdom, for what he described as their unity, warmth and strong sense of togetherness during his ongoing diaspora tour.
In a statement shared after meeting members of the Kenyan community in the town, Gachagua said the reception he received from Kenyans living abroad reflected the values of harmony and cohesion that the country needs back home.
“Thank you to the Peterborough community for the warm hospitality and genuine spirit of togetherness shown throughout last evening and for hosting us,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president noted that the interactions with Kenyans in the UK had strengthened his belief that unity among citizens remains key to building a better nation.
He said the spirit displayed by the diaspora community demonstrated that Kenyans can coexist peacefully despite political and social differences.
“Your spirit of togetherness as Kenyans brings back the spirit of the nation we deserve better at home; cohesive and friendly living in harmony and happiness,” he added.
Gachagua has been on a tour of the United Kingdom where he has been meeting Kenyans living abroad as he seeks to strengthen his political influence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua earlier announced he is cutting short his high-profile tour of the United Kingdom amid mounting political and economic pressure back home, turning what had initially been planned as a month-long diaspora mobilisation campaign into a brief week-long visit.
Gachagua travelled to the UK earlier this month for a series of engagements with Kenyans living abroad as part of efforts to popularise his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The tour included meetings with diaspora supporters in London and Swindon, where he sought support for his political movement and urged Kenyans abroad to participate in shaping the country’s future.
However, while speaking during interviews and public engagements in the UK, Gachagua said the worsening economic situation in Kenya, particularly the sharp rise in fuel prices and transport costs, had forced him to revise his travel plans and return home earlier than expected.
“I must come back because we cannot leave the country when the people of Kenya are in trouble,” Gachagua said while addressing journalists during the trip.
The former deputy president accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failing to cushion Kenyans from the high cost of living and claimed many citizens expected him to continue speaking on their behalf.
He argued that the country was facing a crisis that required urgent political action and consultation with opposition leaders.
During the UK tour, Gachagua also launched DCP diaspora activities and rallied supporters behind his 2027 political ambitions.
In meetings with Kenyans abroad, he expressed confidence that the opposition would form the next government and promised what he described as accountable and humble leadership.
The trip has nevertheless generated political debate in Kenya, with some leaders questioning the objectives of the tour and reports emerging online about alleged attempts to seek meetings with senior British officials. The British High Commission in Nairobi later dismissed as fake a viral letter claiming that Gachagua had sought a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Gachagua’s UK visit is widely being viewed as part of broader efforts to strengthen his political base locally and within the diaspora as the 2027 succession politics begin to gather momentum.
