Former Deputy President and DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua has strongly condemned the government’s violent response to Wednesday’s Gen Z commemorative protests, describing it as a tragic show of force against unarmed youth. In a scathing statement, Gachagua decried the use of live bullets by police, which left at least 15 people dead.
“In the strongest terms possible, I condemn the use of excessive force and live bullets by the police on peaceful and unarmed Gen Z protesters,” he said, criticizing the state for unleashing violence instead of listening to the youth’s grievances.
Gachagua attributed the protests to what he termed as “broken promises” by President William Ruto’s administration. He reminded the government that it had pledged jobs and economic opportunities to young people, but has instead delivered frustration and hardship.
He further alleged that the government facilitated chaos by allowing hired goons to infiltrate the protests in Nairobi. According to Gachagua, businesses owned by individuals from specific communities were targeted in orchestrated looting, carried out under the watch of rogue officers. “Most businesses were left intact in the evening only to be found looted in the morning,” he noted, suggesting that the destruction was deliberately planned.
The former DP also accused the state of suppressing the media, claiming that major television stations were taken off-air to conceal the actions of the hired criminals.
Gachagua did not spare Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, calling his visit to looted shops “pretentious” and accusing him of masking government culpability. “Murkomen, Kenyans are not fools,” he said.
Dismissing claims that the Gen Z protests were foreign-funded, Gachagua asserted that the youth are driven by genuine frustrations. He urged President Ruto to listen to their cries, warning against the rise of a police state.
In solidarity with victims, Gachagua cancelled his Embu county engagements, saying, “They have more tomorrows than either you or I.” His message: the youth are the future, and silencing them will only worsen the crisis.
