Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has linked the recent destruction of property in the Mt Kenya region to what he termed ethnic profiling, accusing the state of sponsoring goons to instigate violence during the Saba Saba Day protests.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, July 9, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader accused the state of sponsoring goons to cause mayhem and attack various businesses in different counties during the nationwide demonstrations.
Gachagua was responding to remarks made by President William Ruto earlier in the day. The president questioned why current protests persist under his administration while past presidents faced less resistance.
“They did not capture our constitutional institutions to work for him. They never killed children or attempted to build churches in the state house,” Gachagua stated, in reference to the late President Mwai Kibaki and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He went on to accuse the current administration of forming a militia operating under the guise of law enforcement.
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Addressing the President's claims that the opposition was plotting to remove him from power unconstitutionally, Gachagua clarified that the citizens of Kenya were eager to embarrass him in 2027.
“Nobody wants to overthrow your government. Nobody wants you out of power through unconstitutional means. My people and I are on record; we want to remove you through the ballot come 2027.”
He further accused Ruto of using the alleged threat as an excuse to use the anti-terrorism law to target his critics.
“Stop crying wolf that anybody wants you out of office before 2027. No leader here is planning a coup, and none has the capacity,” he stated.
President William Ruto, during the commissioning of a police housing project in Nairobi’s Kilimani area on Wednesday, voiced several concerns, among them the claim of a planned move to oust him before his term is over.
In addition, the head of state instructed officers not to kill but to “shoot and break the legs” of any violent protester.
“Anyone who burns down someone else’s business and property, let them be shot in the leg and go to the hospital as they head to court. Yes, let them not kill, but shoot and break the legs. Destroying people’s property is not right,” he directed.
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