Kenyan opposition leader urges tourists to delay visits over security crisis

Former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua warned that foreign tourists should suspend visits to Kenya until after the 2027 general election, describing a "security crisis" with goons allegedly backed by senior officials. He said the situation threatened public safety and urged investors to stay away until the current administration ends.

His remarks followed a series of violent incidents involving suspected goons at churches and public forums, including a fatal attack at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Kisumu. The Jubilee Party responded, urging political leaders to avoid statements that could discourage tourism and foreign investment, emphasizing that tourism generates hundreds of thousands of jobs and is vital to Kenya's economy. The party called for restraint, protection of law‑and‑order, and an end to gang‑related intimidation.