UK Embassy Dismisses Viral Gachagua Letter Requesting to Meet British PM

UK Embassy Dismisses Viral Gachagua Letter Requesting to Meet British PM

The British High Commission in Nairobi has dismissed as fake a viral letter circulating online that purported to show the United Kingdom declining a request by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to meet the British Prime Minister during his ongoing visit abroad.

In a statement issued on Friday, May 22, the British High Commission Nairobi categorically denied the authenticity of the document, warning members of the public against treating it as official communication from the UK government.

The mission stated that the letter, which was widely shared across social media platforms throughout the day, did not originate from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and contained fabricated content relating to Kenya’s internal politics and the 2027 General Election.

“The British High Commission in Nairobi confirms that this letter circulating on social media is fake. If it were real, it would probably be stained with spilt tea,” the mission stated in a light-hearted but firm response.

The now-viral letter had purportedly been addressed to Rigathi Gachagua and suggested that British authorities had declined his request for a meeting with the UK Prime Minister’s Office.

It further claimed that the UK government had concerns about becoming entangled in Kenya’s domestic political affairs ahead of the next General Election.

The fake correspondence alleged that Gachagua’s outreach was politically motivated and linked to his anticipated presidential ambitions in 2027.

“It has come to our attention that the principal purpose of the engagement being sought was not consular, humanitarian, or bilateral in character, but rather orientated towards the domestic political landscape of the Republic of Kenya,” the fabricated letter claimed.

The document further alleged that British authorities had reviewed the request and decided not to accommodate the proposed engagement during the former deputy president’s visit.

However, UK officials moved swiftly to debunk the claims, clarifying that the document was entirely fraudulent and should not be relied upon as an authentic diplomatic communication.

Despite dismissing the letter as fake, the British High Commission did not indicate whether Gachagua had formally requested a meeting with the UK Prime Minister or any British government office.

The controversy emerged as Gachagua continues with his diaspora mobilisation tour in the United Kingdom, where he has been engaging Kenyans living abroad while promoting his newly launched political outfit, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

The former deputy president has intensified his political activities in recent months following his fallout with President William Ruto, with analysts viewing the diaspora engagements as part of an early strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

During several meetings with Kenyans living abroad, Gachagua has promised to expand the role of the diaspora in governance if elected president.

“I have said repeatedly that in our Senate, in our National Assembly, we must get some people nominated from the diaspora to come and represent your interest,” Gachagua said during one of the engagements.

He further pledged that counties aligned with the DCP party would prioritise the nomination of diaspora representatives into county assemblies as part of efforts to strengthen devolution and improve governance.

The incident surrounding the fake letter has once again highlighted the growing role of misinformation and fabricated documents in Kenya’s increasingly charged political environment.

Political observers say the rapid spread of the forged correspondence reflects how social media continues to shape public discourse, particularly around high-profile political figures and diplomatic relations.

The fake letter also triggered widespread reactions online, with supporters and critics of the former deputy president debating its contents before the British High Commission issued its clarification.

As debate over the document continued on Friday evening, neither Gachagua nor his communication team had publicly commented on the matter.

The British mission, meanwhile, urged the public to remain cautious and verify official communication through legitimate diplomatic channels before sharing sensitive political information online.

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UK Embassy Dismisses Viral Gachagua Letter Requesting to Meet British PM