Africa-Press – Kenya. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticised President William Ruto, accusing him of allegedly sending goons to disrupt his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) launch yesterday.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Gachagua challenged the Head of State, urging him to come to terms with the fact that he had lost the trust and support of Kenyans.
Gachagua went ahead to confess several instances where the government allegedly sent goons to disrupt his events. In one instance, the former DP recalled how hooligans who were under police escort attacked him at a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County.
In another instance, the former DP recalled how goons sent by a prominent politician in Mt Kenya, allegedly linked to Ruto, instigated a church attack in Nyeri County.
“You sent the leader of an organised criminal gang, whom you have engaged in the mountain, to support you. They attacked my wife and Christians during a prayer meeting in Nyeri, thus discrediting the altar of God in the process,” Gachagua claimed.
According to the former DP, a similar incident occurred in December last year when police officers were sent to pelt teargas canisters at people during a prayer meeting in Nyandarua County.
In a fourth incident, which took place in January this year, Gachagua disclosed how goons were sent under police escort to evict his children from an office they had leased and operated for five years.
While commenting on yesterday’s attack, Gachagua claimed that police officers were lamenting the Head of State’s decision to stop them from arresting the goons who invaded his party launch.
“Why don’t you simply accept that you have lost my support and that of my followers, and look for support elsewhere? Doesn’t it bother your conscience that you have resorted to using criminal gangs and goons to intimidate and attack those who no longer support you?” Gachagua questioned.
The chaos ensued in Lavington, Nairobi, while the former DP’s entourage was leaving the venue of the party launch. In the process, suspected goons attempted to stop his exit from the venue.
However, police officers who were on high alert quickly intervened and began shooting into the air to disperse the crowd, which had gathered to witness the former DP’s exit.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, while commenting on the disruption of Gachagua’s event, claimed the chaos ensued after the former DP’s supporters were aggrieved for not getting paid.
Addressing journalists on Thursday afternoon, Murkomen urged political leaders to always notify the police about planned political activities to avoid such incidents.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that some supporters were expecting to be paid, and as a result of fighting for those resources, there was a melee which led to a stampede,” Murhomen said.
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