Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that President William Ruto will be the one to blame if he is harmed.
Addressing a press conference in Karen, Nairobi, Gachagua on Monday alleged that security officers from several State agencies were trailing him on Sunday while he attended a church service in Gatanga, Murang’a County.
He claimed the officers intended to throw poison-laced tear gas at him.
“I received intelligence reports that President Ruto had ordered that I be dealt with once and for all.
A killer squad of 101 officers from the National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, General Service Unit, and regular police was deployed yesterday to commit a heinous act against us,” he said.
Gachagua also claimed that security officers had a plot to plant illegal weapons in his vehicles and those of leaders who support him.
He said President Ruto has also ordered that his personal bodyguards be stripped of their firearms, even though they have licenses to own them.
According to the former DP who was impeached last October after falling out with Ruto, the government is targeting him because he has exposed alleged wrongdoing being perpetrated by top government officials.
“Any attempt to stop me is a zero chance. It’s Kenyans who won’t be intimidated by the criminal justice system,” Gachagua said.
He said he won’t stop criticising President Ruto’s administration, adding that his controversial remarks about the upcoming general election have been misrepresented.
In a recent interview with the YouTube channel Obinna TV, Gachagua argued that if the election is “messed with” and President William Ruto “forced on Kenyans”, the country would witness more violence than recorded after the 2007 elections, where over a thousand people were killed.
On Monday, he said his comments were just a warning to the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) to prepare a free and fair election.
Regarding the alleged plan to arrest him, Gachagua said he has not been summoned to appear before any security officials.
“I am here if they want to arrest me, don’t wait for me on the roads,” he said.
He had on Sunday gone into hiding after learning he was wanted.
He evaded a police dragnet in Muranga and drove to his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri as police pursued him.
Police said they wanted to arrest him for questioning. The drama ran into the night on May 18 amid reports more officers had been mobilized to look for him.
Police had laid an ambush on major roads in Muranga as Gachagua and his team snaked from a public event in the area. On learning of the plans to arrest them, some of the leaders escaped using bodabodas that carried avocados in the area.
Under cover police later laid a siege on his Nyeri and Nairobi homes saying they were looking for him.
He is under probe for claims of incitement.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier on warned they will take action on political leaders seen to be inciting Kenyans.
“We will put you in jail, and there’s nothing you’ll do about it,” he said.
Speaking in Nandi County during the thanksgiving ceremony for retired AIC Bishop Patrice Chumba, Murkomen condemned what he termed as a reckless, tribal-driven political agenda threatening national unity.
“You better choose peace, because this country must have peace. We won’t allow anyone to burn it down,” he warned.
His remarks come days after Gachagua in a media interview claimed that the country will be rocked by violence should the 2027 election results fail to reflect his will.
“If the IEBC tries to mess with the 2027 election there will be no country here, 2007 will look like a Christmas Party,” declared Gachagua.
The former DP’s statement has drawn widespread condemnation from leaders across the political divide, who have decried his remarks as reckless, inflammatory, and a dangerous throwback to Kenya’s darkest political moments.
Murkomen reminded Kenyans of Gachagua’s past transgressions.
“He was not punished for invading Uhuru’s farm and stealing livestock. He was not punished for invading and burning Parliament. Now he wants to burn the whole country. We will deal with him decisively,” said the CS.
“Recently elected leaders following merchants of violence and chaos, you better run away. When we come for them, we will also come for you for supporting violence.”
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
