Former Deputy President and Democratic Congress Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at calls for his arrest by senior government officials, insisting he will not be intimidated.
Speaking in Los Angeles on Sunday during his ongoing United States tour, Gachagua dismissed remarks by Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who had urged security agencies to summon him over recent terrorism-related claims.
The two leaders said Gachagua should record a statement upon his return to Kenya regarding allegations that a senior government official met al-Shabaab militants in Mandera and struck a business deal with them.
In a firm rejoinder, Gachagua said he would make his return date public for anyone intending to arrest him.
“When my day to go to Kenya is due, I will announce the date, the hour and the flight number so that whoever is interested in arresting me can go ahead and do it,” he said.
“Every day they discuss me in Parliament and say they will arrest me, I just move on. I am not a leader who buys fear.”
Murkomen, speaking in Keiyo South Constituency during an Economic Empowerment Engagement for Small-Scale Traders and Boda Boda SACCOs attended by Kindiki, termed Gachagua’s remarks “insensitive” and “damaging” to the country’s image.
He praised Kindiki’s previous tenure as Interior CS, contrasting it with what he described as reckless statements by Gachagua.
“When you were the Minister for Interior, you carried yourself with utmost respect for this country and the people of Kenya,” Murkomen told Kindiki.
Kindiki, on his part, maintained that anyone in possession of terrorism-related intelligence must hand it over to relevant authorities for investigation.
“Kenya has suffered a lot due to terrorism. Security issues should not be turned into jokes or politicised for selfish gains,” he said.
Gachagua’s allegations and the subsequent backlash have stirred political tensions, with security concerns now intersecting with the country’s deepening political divides. It remains to be seen whether the former deputy president will face legal action upon his return to Kenya.
