Ruku was reacting to chaotic scenes witnessed on Sunday during a church service in Nyeri attended by Gachagua, where disorder erupted, forcing police to lob teargas inside the church and causing congregants to flee.
The CS claimed the incident was not accidental, alleging that Gachagua moves with armed goons who deliberately cause disruptions at meetings and church services he attends in order to attract sympathy and incite public anger against the government.
“This is the same pattern we witnessed during the Mbeere North by-election campaigns, where his goons attacked an innocent youth and broke his leg,” Ruku said. “The youth, identified as Fredrick, sustained a broken leg during a church service at Karangare that the former Deputy President was attending with his goons.”
Ruku cautioned Kenyans against falling for what he termed “well-organized schemes” designed to manufacture victimhood, spread hatred, and mislead the public about the true state of affairs within government. He warned that the government will not tolerate acts of lawlessness disguised as political victimization, adding that places of worship should never be turned into arenas for political drama.
The CS further noted that the recent chaos mirrors what he described as a pattern of violence linked to Gachagua’s political camp.
He said intimidation and violence have no place in Kenya’s democratic space and urged leaders to stop using youths to advance personal political interests through fear and chaos.
Turning to regional politics, Ruku maintained that the Mt Kenya region remains firmly within government and dismissed claims that the region could shift its political allegiance. He declared Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki the undisputed Mt Kenya kingpin, saying he continues to provide strong and effective leadership for the region from within government.
Ruku urged residents of Mt Kenya Central and Mt Kenya West to remain loyal to the government, noting that with Kindiki at the heart of power, the region is well positioned to benefit from development projects. He warned that any attempts to lure the region into opposing the government would only derail development and deny residents essential services and opportunities.
The CS also accused Gachagua of political arrogance, urging him to respect the Deputy President and acknowledge the long-standing unity between Mt Kenya East, Central, and West. He emphasized that Mt Kenya East has consistently stood with the rest of the region and deserves mutual respect and recognition in national leadership.
Ruku further weighed in on the broader Mt Kenya regional debate, stating that Mt Kenya East also played a critical role in the struggle for independence and should not be sidelined. He said it was wrong for Mt Kenya West and Central to behave as though they were the only regions that sacrificed for the country’s freedom. He called for unity and mutual respect within the wider Mt Kenya region, urging leaders from the West to support the East, especially now that the Deputy President hails from Mt Kenya East.
Ruku maintained that the government remains firmly on course in delivering its mandate, adding that political propaganda and hostility would not derail its development agenda.
Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene echoed Ruku’s sentiments, describing the Nyeri church incident as a “well-scripted drama” by Gachagua and dismissing claims that police targeted him. Munene, however, condemned the use of teargas in a church, terming it a blatant act of disrespect to a place of worship and an affront to the dignity of religious institutions.
Tigania East MP Mpuri Apuri also condemned the Nyeri incident, saying Kenyans should not be subjected to what he termed “politics of conmanship” by selfish individuals.
