Former deputy Rigathi Gachagua has cautioned President William Ruto against forcing the Mt Kenya electorate to rally behind him.
Gachagua sensationally claimed the president was out to employ tactics used by the late Daniel Moi regime to subdue dissenting constituencies and intimidate them into supporting him.
He alleged that the Moi regime used an infamous gang to terrorise the region into submission.
According to him, another gang of this nature was already out to bulldoze the government's will and policies on an already withdrawn electorate of Mount Kenya.
Gachagua seemed to reference the apparent comeback of Maina Njenga in the politics of Mt Kenya.
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Reports by a section of the media indicated that the ex-Mungiki leader had been contracted by the government to influence the region to support the regime.
Gachagua advised Ruto against such moves, suggesting they would be counter-productive.
"History is repeating itself; when the people of this region started saying no, a criminal gang was formed to punish the people because they were saying no to bad governance. The leader of that gang was recently here. The gang descended on the people of this region with brutal efficiency. They beheaded people and exploited our people and caused chaos," said Gachagua.
The former deputy president asserted that the government was uncomfortable with the citizenry becoming wary of the regime's shortcomings.
He added that the gang idea had been conceived to instil fear among the citizens and discourage them from speaking the truth to the holders of power.
"The government has mismanaged the economy, became unpopular, and people have started saying no. The government has now sought the same gang leader to force the people of this region to accept the president and his deputy...I want to urge the president to find out why the people are becoming intolerant against his regime instead of using the Moi-era tactics to subdue those against him," said Gachagua.
Gachagua claimed the gang had the blessing of the government and was already moving across Mt Kenya, disturbing residents.
According to him, police had been instructed to watch from a distance as the group carried out its activities.
"The gang leader said he was tasked by the government to traverse Mt Kenya. They have already started robbing people. When they are reported, the police say they have less they can do as they have been instructed by the deputy president not to take any action against the gang," claimed Gachagua.
