Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has launched a scathing attack against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of allegedly sponsoring violent groups to infiltrate recent youth-led protests and cause widespread destruction in Embu town and Kiritiri.
Addressing the press after touring the damaged sites, Governor Mbarire decried what she described as a calculated effort by Gachagua, alongside a faction of local leaders, to incite unrest aimed at undermining her administration and leadership credentials.
“I am tired of the constant sabotage. These protests were hijacked and weaponized to paint my government as weak, yet we know where the orders were coming from,” Mbarire said.
According to the governor, the alleged plot to incite chaos was devised during a recent political gathering in Embu town, held during the unveiling of Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) aspirants. During the event, Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji was endorsed as the Gachagua-led party’s preferred gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 elections.
Governor Mbarire accused MP Mukunji of acting as a proxy for Gachagua, advancing a “divisive and destructive political mission” intended to destabilize Embu County. She claimed Mukunji was directly involved in mobilizing and coordinating the violent protests that rocked the region.
“These are not mere demonstrations — this is a targeted attack on Embu’s stability and prosperity. I will not allow anyone, regardless of their political stature, to scare away investors or paralyze services,” she added.
Mbarire reported that 23 people were injured during the protests, including 18 police officers. One officer remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at Embu Level 5 Hospital.
Several government and private institutions were also affected, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Post Bank, National Government offices, and Safaricom’s Embu branch, all of which were extensively vandalized.
While reaffirming the youth’s constitutional right to peaceful protest, Governor Mbarire condemned the violence, warning that political manipulation of genuine public grievances would not be tolerated under her watch.
