Members of Parliament on Tuesday implored the Inspector General of Police to arrest and prosecute former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over alleged incitement.
During the House proceedings, the lawmakers referenced Gachagua’s media interview where he warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the 2027 polls fairly or else the post-election violence would be like a ‘Christmas party.’
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed moved the motion in the House, seeking for stern action to be taken against the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader.
We’ve seen reckless utterances from the former DP, whether intentionally or by negligence or out of foolishness, have slowly begun to incite parts in this country, especially areas surrounding Wamunyoro and Mathira,” Junet noted.
“Words have consequences and when leaders call for confrontation instead of dialogue, they betray the very people they purport to represent.”
He questioned why the security institutions have yet to take action on the former Deputy President.
“It’s becoming clear the kind of person we impeached and the reasons why. He is the same person inciting people to violence, propagating hate against one another. Last week, he told musicians not to sing unless they support a political agenda,” he reiterated.
“This is a man who has lost his head, he has lost his soul and wants to take this country to the precipice so that people can fight. I’ve come to realise that you could be dressed in a suit, but you’re a madman.”
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah echoed Junet’s sentiments and called on Police IG Douglas Kanja to enforce the law, wondering why a politician would snub the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC’s) summons.
“As a House, we must not just condemn but call on the government, more so the Police IG, to apply the law without fear or favour,” he noted.
“I want to encourage the NCIC to get the help of the Police IG to enforce the law. Nobody is above the law.”
Further, Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro reiterated that Gachagua should take a psychiatric test to determine his mental status, emphasising that he should be behind bars forthwith.
“Anytime he speaks, it’s about him. It’s time he needs to see a psychiatrist because it’s quite unfortunate that the only time you speak is of one area,” Osoro pointed out.
“It’s about time we call out the NCIC, IG, and NPS for being selective on these matters. It’s about time he was arrested. If those statements were made in the previous regime, someone would be running with a battalion of lawyers. We’re too tolerant.”
Junet vowed to either bring a special motion or a petition to the House, seeking to bar Gachagua from holding any public office in Kenya.
“We’re going to take this matter forward, we’re either going to bring a special motion to the House or bring a petition to the House in accordance with the Constitution to declare that Rigathi Gachagua cannot hold any other public office in Kenya, maybe in Tanzania, Uganda or South Africa or Somalia,” Junet stated.
“Even being a party leader, a party that intends to get money from the exchequer, under the Political Parties Act, you become a state officer. Even that, you cannot be a party leader.”
