Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's call for tourists and investors to boycott Kenya until after the 2027 General Election has sparked a rare bipartisan backlash.

• Mr. Gachagua urged foreign visitors and investors to postpone their trips, aiming to pressure President William Ruto's administration over alleged worsening insecurity.
• The remarks drew condemnation from the Kenya Kwanza administration, tourism stakeholders, and even members of the opposition, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party.
• Tourism industry representatives, such as the Kenya Tourism Federation, warned that such negative publicity could destroy the reputation of a destination that takes years to build and urged that the economy should not be a tool in political struggles.