Armed police officers intercepted Mr Gachagua's convoy at Sagana on Friday as the DCP leader made his way to Kagio in Kirinyaga County to address a political rally.
During the confrontation, some of the vehicles in Mr Gachagua's convoy were damaged.
The DCP leader and his allies were forced to take a longer route through Kandongu to Kagio town, where they were received by hundreds of supporters.
Tension mounted in Kagio as heavily armed police patrolled the town as Mr Gachagua addressed the gathering.
"They hurled teargas canisters and shot at us," he told his supporters at Kagio town in Ndia constituency, claiming his life is in danger.
"The Kenya Kwanza government is worried because I'm telling Kenyans the truth, that is why police are being deployed to attack me and my supporters," said Mr Gachagua.
Mr Gachagua said that his efforts to democratically remove President William Ruto from power in the 2027 general election were unstoppable.
"I will make sure that Ruto is a one-term President," he said.
Mr Gachagua said President Ruto has run down the country's economy, and he must go.
"President Ruto has messed up the economy, and together with my colleagues in opposition, we shall send him home," he said.
Police block former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's convoy in Sagana, Kirinyaga County, on January 9, 2026.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
He accused the President of lying to Kenyans that he is capable of transforming the country into Singapore.
He was accompanied by DCP Deputy leader Cleophas Malala, Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango and Nyandarua Senator John Methu, among other leaders.
Earlier in Nyeri town, Mr Gachagua called for a national conversation about the controversial Grade 10 placement, insisting that the process was biased against certain regions.
He defended his recent remarks regarding the placement of “outsiders” in Mt Kenya schools, stating that students from the Central region also deserve to study in top institutions.
The former DP claimed some regions had received billions of shillings from the government in the equalisation fund since the advent of devolution, but had not constructed good schools, yet they were quick to criticise him when he said that learning opportunities should be distributed equitably across the country.
"All the children in this country are equal, but children from this (Mt Kenya) region should be given priority during the placement, without excluding those from other regions," he said.
He said the placement of Grade 10 learners to national schools should be transparent, dismissing claims that his remarks on the placement of learners were "tribal".
One of the vehicles which was damaged when police fired tear gas at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's convoy in Sagana, Kirinyaga County, on January 9, 2026.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
He told those accusing him of being ‘outspoken’ on matters affecting Mt. Kenya region that he would not remain silent as President Ruto ‘creates’ confusion in the education sector.
He cited Northern Kenya as an example of a region that had received billions of shillings from the national government, yet local leaders had failed to establish high-quality national schools.
“We need a national conversation about this issue of placement. North Eastern leaders are accusing me of being tribal for calling for fairness, yet they have the money but have failed to build good schools for their people," he said.
On Thursday, President Ruto accused his former deputy of spreading hate. He also accused the deputy of spreading tribal politics in the education system.
"They have now gone to our schools to divide our children. How desperate are you? Let our children be. Let our children learn. Those children are Kenyans regardless of the community they belong to," the President said
