Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, June 1, urged President William Ruto on the contentious issue of forced disappearances with a fresh set of demands.
Speaking at a church service in Lari, Kiambu County, Gachagua criticised Ruto's earlier apology as "casual" and challenged the president to meet with the parents of those slain during the protests against the finance bill last year and provide compensation to victims of forced disappearances.
According to Gachagua, the president owed some form of compensation to the victims of disappearances and their parents.
"I saw Ruto giving an apology in a very casual manner," Gachagua said. "If he is serious about making an apology to those who were abducted, he should invite the parents of these children."
Interestingly, Gachagua also appeared to reference Raila Odinga's Madaraka Day speech from hours earlier, where the Orange Democratic Movement Party Leader issued a similar plea to Ruto.
The veteran opposition leader who recently joined forces with Ruto's camp following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ODM and UDA, in his 6-minute speech, noted that compensation would help the country mark an important chapter from the protests witnessed last year.
In a rare show of concurrence with a leader allied to President Ruto, Gachagua claimed during the church service that the president was likely to heed the compensation pleas since Raila had also raised the issue.
Gachagua added, "I've seen Raila has told you this, and I know you'll now listen because William Ruto is now dependent on Raila in today's politics."
Also present at the church service was Billy Mwangi, who was among a group of young Kenyans who disappeared towards the end of 2024. Gachagua specifically urged President Ruto to seek out Billy's parents with an apology and compensation.
Further, the former second in command called for compensation for victims of the recent night inferno in Gachie village, Kiambu county, which claimed the lives of three people.
During the same church service, Gachagua also slammed a section of Mount Kenya leaders, whom he accused of being used by the President to consistently disrupt his functions.
Gachagua was adamant that some Mount Kenya Members of Parliament give the president's camp details of his next engagements to facilitate the presence of goons to disrupt his events.
This is a claim that Kenyans.co.ke could not immediately substantiate, although the government has denied similar claims in the past.
