Malalah Claims Rigathi Gachagua's Arrest Will Halt Harambee Stars Game on Friday

Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malalah/PHOTO: COURTESY

Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malalah has warned that any attempt to arrest ex Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could spark chaos and even disrupt Friday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier involving Harambee Stars.

Speaking on Monday, Malalah claimed that Gachagua’s supporters would turn out in huge numbers to resist any arrest, potentially overwhelming the authorities.

“Those people who will throng to welcome Rigathi Gachagua will be in their thousands. People are coming from all over the world, where will you even hold him?” Malalah posed.

He linked the timing of a possible arrest to Kenya’s football calendar, warning that it could interfere with national pride.

“If you try to arrest him while we have visitors here for the Africa Cup of Nations and Harambee Stars are playing on Friday, do you want us to miss watching the Harambee Stars match just because you arrested Gachagua?” he asked.

Malalah further suggested that Gachagua’s detention would paralyze traffic along major roads in Nairobi.

“Do you know if he spends even one night in a cell, Thika Road will be impassable? Where will people watch the match from?” he said.

He cautioned that locking up the Deputy President, even briefly, would provoke anger from his supporters.

“Arresting Gachagua is provoking chaos, because his supporters are emotional. If you lock him up for a night, we will take to the streets in protest,” Malalah warned.