Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched scathing accusations against President William Ruto, claiming the Head of State is systematically persecuting the Mt. Kenya community.
Speaking on Saturday during the burial of his aunt, the late Gladys Gathoni Kahua, in Nyeri County, Gachagua expressed deep regret over ignoring earlier warnings from his late aunt about Ruto's political intentions.
“If I had listened to my aunt, we would not be in this mess,” said Gachagua. “She warned me that Ruto would first persecute me, then my children, and eventually my community. I didn’t believe her then. But today, it is all unfolding exactly as she said.”
The former second-in-command accused President Ruto of orchestrating a political purge within key government institutions by deliberately removing individuals from the Mt. Kenya region from top government positions.
He further alleged that a secret directive was issued last Saturday at State House, where Ruto allegedly met regional police commanders and ordered a crackdown targeting members of the community.
"Our greatest concern is the decision made last Saturday at State House, where he summoned all police commanders and ordered an onslaught and persecution of our community, and it has begun in earnest. Out of the more than 400 people who have been arrested, 92% are people from this community... on nothing but trumped-up charges," Gachagua alleged.
He singled out Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, accusing him of working in tandem with the President to silence dissent and intimidate young protesters.
Gachagua claimed that Ichung’wah had pushed for the arrest of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) youth leader in Kiambu County, Peter Kinyanjui alias Kawanjiru, accusing him of involvement in burning of a law court in Kikuyu and raiding a police station in Dagoretti.
Gachagua went ahead to express remorse, apologizing to the Mt. Kenya community for his role in supporting Ruto’s presidential bid in 2022.
"I want you to forgive me. This mess we are in as a community is my fault because I did not listen to my aunt. As a community, we are in trouble, and we are at a crossroads. My aunt had warned me that William Ruto is an evil man," said Gachagua.