President William Ruto has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to provide evidence supporting claims that the government orchestrated violence and destruction of property in the Mt. Kenya region.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 9, Ruto said if Gachagua has information implicating a government official in the violence, he should come forward and share it with the public.
"If any leader has information to the effect that the burning of citizens' properties in Meru, Murang'a, Kiambu and Kirinyaga was orchestrated by any official in government, you should be able to provide that information to the public so that those behind these heinous acts can be taken to court and charged for criminal activities," he said.
Ruto warned that the claims, if false, come across as insensitive to victims still reeling from the destruction of their businesses and properties.
"Otherwise, if you are playing politics with businesses of people who are shedding tears because they have lost their property, then shame on you,” he added.
Read More
Gachagua accused the government of orchestrating violence and looting during the recent youth-led protests across Mt. Kenya, particularly those on June 25 and July 7.
He asserts that the government deployed criminal elements to create chaos and target businesses owned by Mt. Kenya residents.
Gachagua noted that businesses were identified and that looters operated under police supervision, citing incidents where police allegedly stood by while destruction unfolded.
"There is clear video evidence of looters operating freely under police watch. If they had intelligence about my involvement, why didn't they act on it?" he posed.
Gachagua also questioned why none of the alleged “goons” have been arrested if they were not state-sponsored.
"If I had paid the goons to come and cause chaos in Nairobi, why were they not arrested? If they were truly my goons, they would have been shot dead today. The Cabinet Secretary for Interior should respect the people of Kenya," he further said.
