The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has responded after the former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, claimed there is an attempt on his life during an impending campaign visit to Mbeere North.
In a scathing letter dated November 13, UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar Hassan dismissed Gachagua’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated, describing them as a “panic-driven public statement” intended to create a false narrative of danger.
The Democracy for Citizens Party had written to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Wednesday, urging him to apprehend individuals he claimed were linked to a local governor and had been hired to disrupt his campaign. Gachagua also named individuals whose video threats had gone viral on social media.
The ruling party, in its letter, disputed the claims, stating that the individuals mentioned by Gachagua could not be verified and described his assertions as exaggerated and lacking a factual basis.
At the same time, the party alleged that Gachagua has a history of using harsh and offensive language and has been involved in incidents of political intimidation, pointing to previous events as examples of his confrontational approach.
“We acknowledge your latest public outburst, packaged as a solemn letter to the Inspector General of Police. Foremost, the claims and allegations as well as the names dropped in your letter, including the alleged ‘close associates’ of UDA Chairperson and Embu County Governor, H. E. Cecily Mbarire, as well as Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Geoffrey Ruku, only exist in your pregnant imagination,” the letter read in part.
Adding that: “Your desperate, diversionary offensive against the National Police Service and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission exposes the predictable floundering of a political personality whose career is appallingly collapsing under the weight of a publicly documented history of misdeeds.”
In its letter, UDA rejected Gachagua’s claim that he faced potential harm in Mbeere North, stating that campaigns in the constituency have proceeded without any reported incidents of intimidation.
The party also raised concerns over what it described as Gachagua’s fraudulent political schemes, citing allegations that he collected funds from a parliamentary candidate under the pretence of issuing a DCP Party nomination certificate, and called for repayment as a matter of financial accountability rather than political rivalry.
“Contrary to your wild allegations and cowardly suspicions, you are well advised that the peace-loving people of Mbeere have no intentions of castrating you, interfering with any part of your anatomy, or retaining any.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Gachagua alleged that the threats were real, noting that they were a political interference, and urged the police to act against those he claims were hired to frustrate his campaign.
At the same time, Chama Cha Kazi party leader Moses Kuria alleged on Tuesday that UDA functionaries were planning to masquerade as CCK members to disrupt Gachagua’s campaign and demand Ksh10 million from him.
The Mbeere North parliamentary by-election has turned into a high-stakes political battle that could be a litmus test for President William Ruto and former DP Gachagua in the Mt Kenya region.
The United Opposition has backed the Democratic Party candidate, Newton Karish, while the ruling UDA is behind Leonard Muthende.
