A fresh political storm has exploded after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma publicly thanked the British government for allegedly “ordering” former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua out of London, igniting outrage, celebration, and fierce online warfare across Kenya’s political divide.
In a fiery social media post that quickly went viral, Kaluma appeared to celebrate reports surrounding Gachagua’s troubled UK visit, declaring: “We thank the British Government for ordering Gachagua out of London.” The explosive statement immediately triggered sharp reactions from supporters and critics alike, with many questioning whether diplomatic pressure or political embarrassment had unfolded behind the scenes.
Gachagua, one of President William Ruto’s fiercest political rivals after his dramatic fallout with the Kenya Kwanza administration, has recently intensified attacks against the government while positioning himself as a key opposition figure ahead of the 2027 elections. His international trips have increasingly attracted political scrutiny back home.
The remarks from Kaluma — himself a vocal defender of the broad ODM-UDA cooperation framework — added fuel to an already tense political atmosphere. Allies of Gachagua accused Kaluma of celebrating “national humiliation” and attempting to weaponize foreign relations for domestic political battles.
“This is reckless politics. You cannot cheer against your fellow Kenyan abroad simply because of political differences,” one user wrote in a heated response that gained thousands of interactions within hours.
But Kaluma’s supporters defended him, arguing that Gachagua has spent months attacking both local institutions and international partners while portraying himself as a political victim.
The latest clash now deepens the growing hostility between pro-government lawmakers and Gachagua’s camp, with both sides digging in ahead of what is shaping up to be a brutal succession battle.
And if the online fury is any indication, this political war is only getting started.