Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has firmly denied allegations linking him to the funding and orchestration of violence during the June 25 Gen Z-led protests. Instead, he pointed fingers at the Ministry of Interior, accusing the government of facilitating the chaos that engulfed multiple counties.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Friday, Gachagua dismissed claims that he coordinated the unrest across 26 counties, emphasizing that the Gen Z movement operates without leaders, tribal affiliations, or a defined structure.
“It’s absurd to suggest that Rigathi Gachagua or anyone else could manage to organize activities in 26 counties simultaneously,” he said.
FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
The former deputy president questioned the role of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and law enforcement in preventing the violence. He accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of failing in his duty to protect citizens and allowing criminal activities to spiral out of control.
“If these activities were indeed premeditated, where was the NIS? If they didn’t know, then they failed in their mandate and should be held accountable. If they knew and did nothing, they’re complicit in enabling anarchy,” Gachagua argued.
STATE INFILTRATION CLAIMS
Gachagua further claimed that violence only escalated after 6 p.m., alleging that organized groups looted businesses while the police stood by. He criticized the lack of arrests and action against those he referred to as “state-sponsored goons.”
“Protesters were arrested, and some were even killed, yet not a single looter was apprehended. If these were my goons, they would have been shot or jailed by now,” he remarked.
According to Gachagua, the looting and chaos were orchestrated to delegitimize the largely peaceful Gen Z movement and provide justification for a government crackdown.
“The real violence was not from Gen Z protesters. It was infiltrators sent to tarnish their cause and undermine their fight for justice,” he asserted.
CALL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
Gachagua concluded his interview with a scathing critique of Murkomen, urging him to respect the intelligence of the Kenyan people and hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
“The Interior CS must stop insulting Kenyans’ intelligence. People saw what happened—the real looting started after dark, under police watch. Why weren’t the looters arrested or stopped?” he asked.
The former deputy president’s comments come amid growing public scrutiny of how the protests and subsequent violence were handled, further fueling debates about accountability and government transparency.
