Why Gachagua Must Record Statement with Police after Return to Kenya - CS Murkomen

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua will be compelled to record a statement with the police over his wild allegations while in the United States. 

Gachagua, who departed Kenya for the US on July 9, has sustained his onslaught against President William Ruto, making allegations regarding the president's conduct.

He recently claimed that Ruto met representatives of the Somalia-based terror group Al Shabaab in Mandera.

Gachagua asked Ruto to reveal to the world why he was meeting the aforementioned.

Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on Saturday, August 9, during an empowerment programme graced by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Murkomen said Gachagua must be held responsible for his utterances.

He accused Gachagua of putting at risk the issues of security, declaring that the government would not sit back and watch.

The CS accused the former deputy president of carelessly using strange allegations for political expediency.

He said Gachagua will have to explain what he knows about the meetings the president supposedly had with the Al Shabaab representatives.

"I had one man who sat in the deputy president disparaging our country, talking about issues of insecurity as though it's a joke. To the extent that he's talking about, he thinks that he's going to parade issues of terrorism in America for him to get votes. We want to say, without fear of contradiction, because he has said he has information, and he knows, and he has an agent who is sitting in meetings with Al Shabaab, as soon as he lands in Kenya, he must record a statement to tell us exactly which meetings he's having with terrorists. This country, you know, we have joked for far too long. It is just unbelievable. And so we are saying that we must carry ourselves with the responsibility that is ours, if you are holding a public office," Murkomen said.

Speaking at the same function, Kindiki castigated Gachagua for being reckless to score cheap political points.

He cautioned Gachagua against politicising the issue of terrorism and insecurity to get back at the president.

Kindiki told Gachagua that he has no choice but to respect the country and its sovereignty even if he differs with those in power.

"Stop playing with our national security. I have been the Cabinet Secretary, and I understand that matters of national security cannot be politicised. There is a former leader who has gone abroad to insult the president and other leaders. We have no problem with you if your agenda is insults, but please differentiate between leaders and the country. Insult us all you want, but spare the country your rhetoric. Al Shabaab is not an issue to joke around with. They have killed Kenyans; it is not a joking matter. I hope you are not just playing politics. If you have information, avail it so that we deal with them," Kindiki told Gachagua.

Gachagua's remarks had earlier sparked condemnation from leaders in Mandera County.

Senator Ali Roba castigated Gachagua for falsely claiming the president's presence in Mandera in February this year was suspicious.

The senator said the president was in his county on a working tour and that all his engagements were public.

"This claim is not just false; it is a calculated, malevolent lie. As a leader who personally accompanied H.E. President William Ruto from the moment he landed in Mandera to the moment he departed, I affirm without fear of contradiction that the President only met officially recognized Mandera leaders and the public in open forums," Roba said.

"Every aspect of the president’s one-day itinerary was transparent and in the public domain. No private, backdoor, or suspicious meetings took place. The suggestion by Mr. Gachagua that the President met with unknown individuals is a shameful fabrication designed to sow division and confusion among the people," he added.