Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that his sons pushed him to hold a press conference following President William Ruto's remarks after the deadly protests on June 2024 protests.
Speaking on Thursday, October 9, Gachagua said his sons approached him after President Ruto labelled the Gen Z protesters as ‘criminals’.
The former DP recounted that his sons sat him down and expressed their disappointment with President Ruto’s remarks and pushed him to pronounce himself on the matter.
“That statement I made in Mombasa, I was pushed by my children. Everybody listens to their children. The day William Ruto called youths criminals on June 25, my children turned up in my residence at 6 AM, sat me down and told me, Dad, your boss has called us criminals.
“They told me that I must immediately pronounce myself on the matter. That is how influential children are,” Gachagua narrated.
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On June 25, 2024, President Ruto described the breach of parliament during anti-finance bill protests as treasonous.
The Head of State claimed that criminals posing as peaceful protesters hijacked the demos and caused havoc.
"It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives, and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free.
"We must isolate crime from democratic expression and separate criminals from people exercising the freedom of expression and divergent opinion,” Ruto stated.
Gachagua also called a press conference in Mombasa and blamed NIS for failing to inform the government about the planned protests.
The former DP also called for the resignation of Haji following the deadly protests that saw at least 30 people lose their lives.
“Noordin Haji must take responsibility for the deaths that have occurred, the mayhem witnessed, and for failing Ruto, the government, and Kenya by not doing his job and advising correctly.
“He must not just take responsibility but resign from that office and allow the president to pick a competent DG," said Gachagua at the time.
