Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech has claimed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is being hunted down by authorities over the Occupy Parliament protests of June 25, 2024.
Speaking during an interview at Citizen TV on Monday morning, MP Koech alleged that recent remarks by Gachagua about the 2027 elections were enough to have him charged.
This, he alleged, was because the last time he spoke against the government, the Gen Z protests of June 2024 happened, leaving behind them a trail of chaos.
"Rigathi Gachagua, as we are talking right now, including a few members of parliament, are about to be charged for what happened last year on June 25. The invasion of parliament and the chaos after, and the act itself, include Rigathi Gachagua."
"When he issues another statement, it is not taken lightly because this is someone who has the capability of causing chaos, not by any power that he has, but through his tongue. He has a bad tongue, and if he is not charged, then he believes he is above the law."
Speaking during an interview on Friday, Gachagua warned that the 2027 general elections could see a repeat of the 2007/2008 post-election chaos, as Kenyans were angry and would let it show.
"With the mood in the country, if that IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here. I want to tell you that 2007 will look like a Christmas party,” Gachagua stated.
“I want to tell those commissioners to be Kenyans and to be patriotic and not to attempt to force William Ruto on the people of Kenya. It will not work. The people of Kenya will not accept it, people want change, and they are ready for change."
The remarks prompted an uproar both from the public and from top government officials, including his successor, Kithure Kindiki and the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen.
In separate addresses, the two denounced the remarks, stating that maintaining peace during the 2027 general elections was the priority and whoever threatens to disturb this peace would be dealt with by the long arm of the law.
However, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader later denied asserting that there would be post-election chaos, stating that his remarks were taken out of context.
"I never said there would be chaos in Kenya. What I said is that, according to the concerns being raised by Kenyans, there must be no attempts to rig the elections—so that we avoid a repeat of the tragic events of 2007/2008," he said during a church service in Murang'a on Sunday.
Despite the clarification, Gachagua's homes in Karen and Nyeri were both surrounded by authorities on Sunday night as they sought to take in the former deputy president.
