Allies of President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga
have accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of
exploiting the Gen Z-led protests to orchestrate a regime change.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and nine MPs faulted Gachagua for the chaos that ensued during protests yesterday.
“What happened in our country yesterday was not a normal
demonstration. It was not a Gen Z demonstration,” Junet, a close ally of Raila, said in Parliament.
"It was a political event meant to overthrow the constitution and the existing governance of this country."
At least 15 people were killed and more than 500 injured in the protests, which were held to commemorate the more than 60 Kenyans who
died during demonstrations against the Finance Bill, 2024, in June last year.
Property of unknown value was destroyed, shops looted and
dozens of protesters arrested.
Elsewhere, Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen also claimed that
the organisers of Wednesday’s nationwide protests were attempting to
orchestrate a coup.
Speaking during a press briefing after touring parts of
Nairobi to assess the aftermath of the protests, Murkomen alleged that the
demonstrations were a calculated and coordinated attempt to overthrow the
government.
“The plan was to take symbols of authority and democracy,
which are Parliament and State House, to show that they had achieved some sort
of regime change,” he said.
In Parliament, Junet accused Gachagua of ethnically
mobilizing demonstrators and transporting them to Nairobi to topple the
government.
Junet sponsored a motion calling on the
Police IG to investigate the perpetrators of the demonstrations.
“When you’re holding a national demonstration, people
protest in their respective counties and subcounties. You don’t transport people
from one region to Nairobi to demonstrate,” he said.
“That kind of ethnic mobilisation was not a normal
demonstration. Why bring people from Kiambu, Thika Road, Thika, Murang’a, Juja
to Nairobi? What we saw yesterday was ethnic mobilisation intended to fight and
overthrow the Constitution of Kenya.”
Junet further claimed Gachagua was setting a dangerous
precedent by suggesting that aspiring presidential candidates must first “cause
anarchy and lead demonstrations”.
However, allies of Gachagua and other opposition leaders
pushed back, arguing that the protests were nationwide and not linked to any
one politician.
“Was Rigathi in Homa Bay? Mombasa? Kakamega? Everywhere?” asked Kipipiri MP
Wanjiku Muhia.
Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui said the attacks on Gachagua
and other opposition leaders were unwarranted.
“I see there is an attempt to try and malign certain
individuals out of yesterday’s activities. This (demos) was spontaneous and was
done across the country,” he said.
Junet countered that the violence and destruction of
property occurred primarily in regions associated with Gachagua.
“If you want to remove a government, you won’t do it through
protests. You won’t achieve it by burning and destroying property. You have to
wait for the elections,” he said.
Ichung’wah said most of the destruction occurred in Mt Kenya
and targeted properties owned by people from the region.
“We want the Inspector General to investigate current and
former politicians involved in planning, funding and mobilising these criminal
acts,” he said.
Ichung’wah went further, accusing Gachagua of orchestrating
a personal attack.
“Yesterday, there was an attempt to kill my 105-year-old
father and 85-year-old mother. All in the name of myself being the leader of the
majority in this house, and having done my work to the best of my ability as God
may help me,” he said.
“This is a dark man with a very dark heart,” he said, referring
to Gachagua.
Earlier, nine MPs allied to Ruto and Raila accused
Gachagua of being at the center of the protests with the intention of toppling
the government.
“Those weren’t protests. It was a coup attempt. The person
behind it intended to overthrow President William Ruto’s government,” said
Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed (ODM), speaking at a press
conference at Parliament Buildings yesterday.
“He has come out praising Gen Z, calling them his children.
But how come all the Gen Z protesters came from Central?”
Other MPs who levelled accusations against Gachagua included
Didmus Barasa (Kimilili, UDA), Doris Donya (Kisii, Wiper), Mark Nyamita (Uriri,
ODM) and Ali Wario (Garsen, ODM).
Also in the camp were Lilian Siyoi (Trans Nzoia, UDA), Johana Ng’eno
(Emurua Dikirr, UDA), Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North, UDA) and Irene
Mayaka (nominated, ODM).
Barasa called for Gachagua’s immediate arrest, accusing him
of funding criminal gangs to infiltrate the protests and cause chaos.
“We are calling for the arrest of our former Deputy President for financing groups that infiltrated the Gen Z protests to loot,
injure and terrorise Kenyans,” he said.
Garsen MP Ali Wario criticised the National Cohesion and
Integration Commission for failing to summon Gachagua despite his
provocative public remarks.
“Some people want to destroy our country. We are calling on
NCIC to take firm action against Rigathi Gachagua. He’s acting with impunity,”
Wario said.
“He is inciting Kenyans against their leaders.
Democracy allows citizens to elect their leaders. In 2027, Kenyans will choose
who they want. But for now, elections are over. The leaders in office were duly
elected.”
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen detailed extensive damage to
government infrastructure and property, noting that key installations were
deliberately targeted. He said at least nine police stations were attacked,
five of which were torched, including Dagoretti, Molo and Ol Kalau. Eighty-eight
police vehicles were destroyed. A total of 27 national and county government
vehicles were damaged, while 65 civilian vehicles, including a school bus, were burnt at various police stations.
