Former Chief Justice and presidential hopeful David Maraga has dismissed as fake a news report claiming that he criticised the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, Rigathi Gachagua, for comments made during his visit to the United States.
On August 13, Maraga took to social media to dismiss the quote, urging the public to disregard any communication not disseminated through his official campaign website.
"Let’s fight misinformation. If it is not on davidmaraga.com, then it has not been said," the statement read.
The flagged quote had warned the former Deputy President against making damaging remarks about Kenya.
Gachagua's trip to the US, where he has been promoting his new party, the DCP, and increasing support from the diaspora ahead of the 2027 general elections, has been marred by controversy.
Over the past few days, for instance, he has been embroiled in a battle of words with the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over damning terrorism claims.
While speaking during one of his engagements in the US, Gachagua claimed that President William Ruto allegedly met with three Al-Shabaab militia members at night to discuss "business" in Mandera and thus must explain to Kenyans what the discussions were about.
He further speculated that the government was hiding its intention by removing the vetting requirement for non-Kenyans before issuing them with identity cards (IDs).
In response, CS Murkomen accused Gachagua of damaging Kenya’s reputation abroad by trivialising serious security concerns in order to win votes.
Speaking during the Keiyo South Economic Empowerment Program on Saturday, Murkomen directed the former DP to record a statement with Kenyan authorities upon his return to the country.
“He thinks that he is going to parade issues of terrorism in America to get votes,” Murkomen said. “I want to say, without fear of contradiction, because he has said that he has information and he knows, and that he has an agent who is holding meetings with Al-Shabaab, as soon as he lands in Kenya, he must record a statement to tell us exactly which meetings he is having with terrorists."
In a rejoinder on Sunday, Gachagua dared the CS to arrest him upon his return, saying that he was not afraid of the repercussions of his remarks but would aid in investigations into President Ruto in the US.
"I am not a leader who buys fear. I am not the one who has launched investigations against William Ruto. It is the Senate of the United States," Gachagua said. "I have nothing useful to tell him (Murkomen). But if the Americans want me to assist in investigations, I would because that is where the investigations are."
