President William Ruto (top). From left: Rigathi Gachagua (DCP), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (PLP), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-Kenya) and former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
The decision by Sports Kenya to deny impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua a venue for the official launch of his new party echoes the same old tactics deployed by those in power to frustrate the opposition.
Mr Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) has been forced to scout for a private venue after they were blocked from holding the event at Kasarani Indoor Arena on June 3, 2025.
The script in the venue saga is, however, all familiar and has in the past been deployed to frustrate opposition politicians from holding political events.
Purported intelligence reports of planned or possible violence, renovation of the said facilities, earlier or double bookings have always been cited in cancelling bookings, mostly by the opposition politicians.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (in red suit) with other officials during the unveiling ceremony of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) in Lavington, Nairobi on May 15, 2025.
In the latest case, Sports Kenya initially granted DCP the right to use the venue. The new party initially wanted to have the event on June 4, 2025, but was advised to hold it on June 3. The management went ahead to serve the party with an invoice of Sh3.7 million.
Prior bookings
“We regret to inform you that the venue will not be available due to prior bookings by sports teams. We are also not taking further bookings due to preparations for the upcoming Championships for African Nations (CHAN 2025) to be hosted within the complex,” Sports Kenya said in cancelling the booking.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has been a major victim of this state overreach. During former President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure, when Mr Odinga led the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and the National Super Alliance (NASA), the police and other state agencies cited fears of possible political violence to cancel his rallies.
Jubilee administration also in some instances booked all major venues especially in the run-up to the presidential elections to deny Mr Odinga venues. In another bizarre instance, raw sewage was poured at Jakaranda grounds to stop him from holding a political rally.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga addressing a rally at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi County on January 29, 2023.
A similar fate also befell President Ruto at the height of his falling out with his then boss, President Kenyatta, especially in the run-up to the August 2022 presidential election.
Mr Kenyatta was also made to have a taste of his own medicine when after leaving office, he was denied a venue at Bomas of Kenya for his Jubilee Party National Delegates Convention. Mr Kenyatta had to scout for a private venue for the delegates' conference.
“In politics, players have to use all manner of tactics, ethical and unethical, to build as many barriers to the opposition taking power from them. Venues are important to congregate, motivate, and invigorate supporters. So, the government denying DCP access to Kasarani is one such political tactic. To raise the costs for the DCP to organize while frustrating their effort at challenging the government,” said Prof David Monda, a US-based university lecturer and political analyst.
In the long run, Prof Monda notes that this kind of tactic can backfire, particularly if DCP decides to use the courts.
“Outside the physical courts, is the psychological court of public opinion. Ruto’s effort to deny DCP avenue to meet will grow sympathy for the party not only from their die-hard supporters in the court of public opinion, but in the mindset of the greater public.”
Remove Ruto from power
The perception that DCP is being undermined because a weaponised administrative state under Kenya Kwanza is hell-bent on undermining any opposition forces organising to remove Ruto from power,” said Prof Monda.
In its inaugural National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, DCP resolved to scout for a private venue for its official launch. This is even as the party and its leaders accused President Ruto of an attempt to frustrate the party.
“NEC directed the Secretary-General to source for an alternative and suitable private venue for the party lunch within the month of June, 2025; once this is identified and agreed upon, we shall communicate to our party members and supporters accordingly,” said the party after its NEC meeting.
DCP Secretary General Hezron Obaga described the indefinite venue cancellation as an affront to democracy and an attempt to deter the DCP party launch by the government.
Gatanga MP Edward Muriu and former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, both allies of Mr Gachagua, said that no amount of intimidation and harassment will stop the resolve by the opposition to send President Ruto home in 2027.
“The booking confirmation was done and the party started making launch preparations, but after the word went out, a telephone call from State House was made and they made a hasty cancellation. All these are meant to delay and frustrate the entrenchment of the DCP party,” said Mr Muriu.
He added, “Its leaders are being hunted down by KRA and DCI to break their resolve to have a party for the mountain people which will be articulating their interest. Never again will the mountain people entrust their interest in a person, never again will the mountain people go to an election without their own party.”
Mr Nyakera said that the decision to cancel the DC Party’s venue booking at Kasarani was a direct assault on constitutionalism, the rule of law, and democratic space in the country.
“The letters from Sports Kenya reveal the sheer contempt for the legal process, as the venue was first offered, then paid for, and subsequently denied on flimsy and suspicious grounds. This is not just venue politics, it is political sabotage that sets a dangerous precedent for authoritarian rule,” said Mr Nyakera.
Mr Kenyatta was on May 22, 2023, forced to hold his Jubilee Party delegates conference at Ngong Racecourse. This was after he was blocked from holding the event at Bomas of Kenya.
From left: Opposition chief Raila Odinga, Jubilee Party leader and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Democratic Action Party-Kenya boss Eugene Wamalwa during the Jubilee Party NDC at the Ngong Racecourse on May 22, 2023.
A letter from Bomas of Kenya Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Gladys Kangethe to JP acting executive director Polycarp Hinga indicated that the venue was not available.
Ms Kangethe indicated that the main auditorium was scheduled to undergo renovation works for eight weeks from May 16.
"As you are aware, we are currently hosting the Task Force Committees dealing with known and sensitive matters of national importance, while another client has already booked our other alternative hall," stated the May 12 letter.
In August 2022, then Deputy President Ruto had to secure court orders to hold his last rally at the Nyayo National Stadium. Both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition had lay claim to the facility.
UDA Presidential Candidate William Ruto addressing his supporters at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on August 6, 2022 during a Campaign rally.
Sports Kenya, in a regret letter, informed then UDA acting Secretary General Veronica Maina that the venue had already been booked for a different function on the material day.
“We regret to inform you that due to peace concerts scheduled to take place at both Moi International Sports Center- Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium between August 5 to 7, 2022. The facility will not be available for their use,” Sports Kenya said.
Kenya Kwanza and Azimio would later use Nyayo and Kasarani, respectively for their final rallies.
Security campaign
Dr Ruto publicly complained of frustration in security campaign venues.
"Today we are to have our last rally in Mombasa but our competitors are using the police to block us. Police claim we cannot have the rally because President Uhuru Kenyatta is in the coastal city," said the DP at a press conference at his home in Karen, Nairobi.
"We are also having challenges in holding our planned last rally at Nyayo stadium this weekend despite booking the venue and getting approval from the police," said DP Ruto.
In November 2017, crooks poured raw sewage at Jacaranda grounds, the venue of the prayer rally convened by the opposition Nasa. The raw sewage, estimated to have been dumped by between four to five exhausters, was poured at the spot where a dais was to be erected.
In May, 2016, the High Court had to nullify the government’s ban on CORD’s Madaraka Day rally that it had planned at Uhuru Park. Justice George Odunga directed then Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet to ensure peace was maintained.
At the heart of the standoff was a group of preachers called Prayers Beyond Boundaries Ministries. The group had claimed to have booked the venue for 3 days. The government cited the purported double booking to cancel the events.
Then Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe claimed that the decision to bar the two warring parties from using the venue was reached by the National Security Council following intelligence reports showing the meeting could cause security threats.
Further, a June 2014, Cord rally at 64 Stadium in Eldoret was also cancelled. In a notice signed by then Eldoret Deputy OCS Patrick Lumumba, the police said they had cancelled the rally following intelligence reports that the meeting could turn chaotic.
