Police Allegedly Surround Gachagua's Karen, Wamunyoro Residences

Police officers on Sunday evening, May 18, allegedly surrounded former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Karen and Wamunyoro homes. 

Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, in a statement via X, said the police had taken hostage Gachagua’s residences and are in pursuit of him.

The lawyer noted that the police have yet to explain the reason they are looking for the former DP.

“To all media houses, kindly be informed that the DCI has taken over both Rigathi Gachagua’s homes in Karen and Wamunyoro. They are currently man-hunting him. We are yet to be informed of the reason,” Njiru claimed.

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala, in a statement, alleged that the officers who surrounded Gcahagua’s homes were drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), General Service Unit (GSU), and the National Intelligence Service (NIS). 

“This evening, officers drawn from the DCI, GSU, NIS, and other special forces have raided and illegally occupied my Party Leader, Rigathi Gachagua's homes in Wamunyoro, and even Karen, attempting to arrest him for only God knows what,” said Malala.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the alleged planned arrest of the former Deputy President, saying they are prepared to produce him before the DCI.

“This intimidation of the Opposition must stop. Mr Ruto, if you want to arrest Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, do it the right way; follow the law.

“We are prepared to produce DP Gachagua before the DCI Kenya. Please stop abducting Kenyans and their leaders. Abductions are primitive and cowardly,” Kalonzo remarked.

Nyandarua Senator John Methu, who is allied to Gachagua, also evaded arrest on Sunday after he was given a lift by an individual ferrying avocados in a pickup truck. 

“Thank you all for your concern. I am safe. If you were the one who gave a ride to the old man who was wearing a black jacket and a black cap, and you were driving a pickup full of avocados and dropped him off at Delview, may you be blessed. Those Subarus had bad intentions,” Methu said on social media.

This comes after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki slammed Gachagua over remarks that the country risks a repeat of the 2007 bloodshed.

In a statement on Saturday, May 18, Kindiki said the country learnt hard lessons in the 2007/2008 post-election violence and will never return to a similar situation.

“Kenya will never return to political violence, not in 2027, not at any other time in the future. Our country learnt hard and painful lessons from the 2007/2008 post-election violence. Never again.

“Henceforth, Kenya’s leadership contests will revolve around who has better ideas to transform the country. The debate cannot be about the fear-mongering of desperate, vengeful, thoughtless, and pretentious leaders,” said Kindiki.

On his part, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen said Gachagua’s remarks are enough to bar him from holding any public office.

"Those remarks alone are enough to bar that person from holding any public office. Forget about impeachment, because many people lost their loved ones in the 2007/2008 and some have never recovered, and somebody is promising that violence will escalate in the next elections,” Murkomen stated.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech on Monday said Gachagua and a section of MPs are set to be charged over the June 2024 protests.

“Gachagua and a few members of Parliament are about to be charged for what happened on 25 June last year. The invasion of parliament and the chaos after, the architect, includes Gachagua,” Koech stated.