Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a stark warning to the Kenyan government, urging caution against actions that may risk the country’s re-engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking at the Dandora AIPCA Church in Nairobi County, Gachagua raised alarm over incidents of abductions, kidnappings, and forced disappearances targeting government critics, drawing parallels with the post-election violence witnessed in 2007 and 2008. During his address, Gachagua stressed the need to document hate speech perpetrated by government affiliates, referencing a recent incident at a meeting led by a Cabinet Secretary in Lamu.
The former DP recalls the traumatic experiences of President Ruto during his own ICC trial related to the earlier violence, warning that continued actions by certain loyalists could jeopardize Kenya's standing and potentially lead it back to the international court. In a notable development, Gachagua discloses that a team of legal experts has been convened to address crimes against humanity, with the intention of pursuing justice through the ICC for those accountable for such offences.
He further accuses the government of intentionally creating a vacuum within the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), claiming this could incite political unrest and position the nation on the brink of a state of emergency. Gachagua calls upon the international community and the ICC to closely monitor the escalating tensions within Kenya. In maintaining a defiant stance, Gachagua declares that efforts by President Ruto to impeach him would not deter him from his convictions.
He promises to uphold his position and suggests that there will be a significant protest from the Mt. Kenya region in the upcoming 2027 elections. He accuses the President of betraying the interests of the Mt. Kenya community, vowing that retribution would follow. Support for Gachagua's remarks came from Roysambu MP Kamande Mwafrika, who stated that the Mt. Kenya region is poised to shift away from the ruling United Democratic Alliance in preparation for the next election.
Meanwhile, Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto has urged the government to focus on job creation for the youth to avert potential unrest. Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia argues that removing President Ruto from power could lead to improvements in the education and health sectors. In a poignant reflection, Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara reveals that President Ruto allegedly orchestrated support for Gachagua's impeachment.