Normal operations continued at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday morning even as excitement built around the return of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
By 9 a.m., passengers were moving smoothly through Terminal 1A for international arrivals and departures.
Airport authorities assured the public that services would not be disrupted despite heightened security and the political attention surrounding the arrival.
Dozens of Gachagua’s allies were already present at the airport, including Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, several Members of Parliament and county leaders. Clad in party colors and waving placards, they sang and chanted in anticipation of welcoming him back.
Malala, who had earlier urged Kenyans to gather at JKIA by 8 a.m., reiterated his call for unity, telling supporters, “Today, we are here not just to receive our leader, but to reaffirm our commitment to the values he represents.”
Despite the show of loyalty, the crowd remained controlled, with security agencies keeping a close eye on proceedings. A contingent of General Service Unit (GSU) officers and two water cannons were strategically deployed to ensure order.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja described the return as “an ordinary arrival,” while Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen warned against attempts to incite chaos, saying the law would be applied firmly.
By mid-morning, the terminal retained its usual efficiency. However, all attention shifted to noon, the expected time of Gachagua’s landing, when his supporters promised a grand reception at the arrivals gate.
His return is being closely watched as a political moment, one that could test both his allies’ mobilising power and the state’s ability to maintain calm at one of Africa’s busiest airports.
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