Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has said that the government will arrest former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following the detention of his allies.
According to the lawmaker, who is a close ally of President William Ruto, the government will also continue to apprehend other Gachagua allies who are said to have facilitated the demonstrations.
Speaking in Meru on Saturday, July 6, Gachagua confirmed that two Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) youth leaders were recently arrested and re-arrested over alleged links to the June 25 protests.
Gachagua claimed that President Ruto had directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to arrest young people who were affiliated with his party. He further claimed that the operation is also being coordinated by governors allied with the President.
Sudi, who asserted that the arrest of Gachagua and his allies is not politically motivated, stressed that the move is aimed at reinforcing the country's security and peace.
"I see Gachagua Inciting and telling people that the President is calling for the apprehension of some people. But these were the financiers, and you were one of them. And I want to tell you that after apprehending all of them, we will come for you," Sudi said.
"You cannot be financing the destruction of people's property and spearheading hate, incitement, and bad politics, which often lead to the destruction of properties," he added.
According to the DCI boss, Mohammed Amin, in a statement on Monday, June 30, authorities have already kickstarted an intense crackdown to apprehend those responsible for the stealing of police firearms and the destruction of critical government infrastructure and businesses witnessed during the June 25 protests.
According to Amin, 485 people have been arrested by authorities in relation to the violence as of Monday. Amin claims that 37 suspects are still being investigated, while 448 suspects have already been charged.
The DCI boss further claimed that if the former deputy president is found to have any connection with violence witnessed during the demonstrations, he will face the full force of the law.
However, the DCI boss clarified that no summons have been made against the DCP party leader so far.
"With regard to Rigathi, I would like to put it very clearly that Rigathi Gachagua does not enjoy any immunity against prosecution. He is subject to the laws of the land," Amin said.
"If, in our investigations, he is found to have been involved in criminal activity, then action will be taken against Rigathi Gachagua," he added.
