Gachagua Confronts Ruto After The DCI Targets His Two Allies

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday, September 26 unleashed an explosive statement hours after it emerged that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recommended charges against Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru and his Embakasi North counterpart James Gakuya over alleged involvement in planning and financing anti-government protests....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

The two, notable allies of Gachagua, were recommended for different charges. The DCI recommended that Gathiru be charged with incitement to commit an offence, conspiracy to commit a felony, and money laundering.

On the other hand, the DCI recommended that Gakuya be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, in violation of Section 393 of the Penal Code.

Taking to Facebook, Gachagua wrote “The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is an outdated political strategy that was used in the past. President William Ruto and I, on assuming Office, gave an undertaking to the People of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics.”

The second in command lamented that the latest developments signalled a return to the past whereby he was subject to harassment indirectly through the targeting of allies close to him, but this time to solidify more grounds for his impeachment.

“I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were. Harassment of my Office staff and Members of Parliament perceived to be close to me, has been going on for the last two months.

I have learnt of a scheme to prefer trumped-up charges against three members of my staff and the MPs for Embakasi North Hon James Gakuya and Embakasi Central Hon Benjamin Gathiru Mejja Donk.

“This evil scheme is to associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late June, in a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me,” he added.

Gachagua expressed that he was embarrassed that state agencies were being used to fight him despite the promises he alongside President Ruto made during and after the elections. As a result, he called on the DCI to stop being used in political wars.

“Kenyans are very intelligent people. They know what factors made the People of Kenya take to the streets. Kenyans also know what the real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi Gachagua is not among them. Let our agencies remain professional, follow the rule of law and keep off politics,” he appealed.

According to the DCI, the two lawmakers were implicated after the DCI director received intelligence reports regarding the planning and financing of the anti-government protests witnessed on June 25, 2024.

“The Director, Directorate of Criminal Investigations received intelligence reports of planning, mobilising and financing of violent protests that were witnessed in the country on 25th June and subsequent days where Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi and James Gakuya among others were implicated following several meetings that took place at Hotel Boulevard within Nairobi,” DCI remarked.

The Amin Mohamed-led directorate further stated that the MPs were summoned on July 31 and they recorded statements, though the DCI revealed that the two lawmakers refused to surrender their mobile phones for forensic examination, resulting in alternative measures to access financial information.

Similarly, the DCI recommended charging former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu and former Embakasi West MP George Theuri with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Meanwhile, the political temperature around Gachagua has spiked dramatically, as talk of impeachment grows louder.Over 116 MPs have already endorsed a motionto oust the Deputy President, alleging multiple breaches of the Constitution.

The charges levelled against him range from undermining Cabinet unity and violating national security protocols to engaging in divisive politics. Gachagua’s unfiltered criticism of key figures, including National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji

, has not gone unnoticed. His staunch opposition to the Finance Bill 2024 has only deepened the rift within the administration, with some speculating that his dissent is fuelling the impeachment push…CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ARTICLES>>>