Murkomen: DCI must hear from Gachagua on terror allegations

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has maintained that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua records a formal statement with police following explosive allegations about Al-Shabaab.

Speaking in Narok County ahead of the government’s Jukwaa Town Hall meeting, Murkomen dismissed Gachagua’s claims as sensationalist and dangerous.

He stated that unless the former deputy president submits credible information to the appropriate authorities, his remarks will be treated as "comedy and caricature."

Gachagua, currently on a tour in the United States, recently claimed that a certain senior official had met al-Shabaab representatives in Mandera and allegedly struck a business deal with the outlawed group.

“If Gachagua feels he has any information worth consideration, locally and even internationally, he must record it with the DCI for him to be taken seriously,” Murkomen said.

“Until then, we will consider what he said as part of his continuous comedy and caricature that he has become.”

In a sharp escalation of tone, Murkomen went on to suggest that failure by Gachagua to record a statement could raise questions about his honesty.

Murkomen claimed that Gachagua’s remarks may be the result of psychological distress following his removal from high office, warning that continued public sharing of such claims poses a threat to national security.

“The people who share his messages on social media are the ones encouraging him to say more things that could harm our country,” he noted.

While addressing a forum in the United States on Friday, Gachagua alleged that senior members of the Kenyan Executive held a clandestine meeting in Mandera with Al-Shabaab operatives, striking a business deal with the terrorist group.

According to him, the meeting involved three leaders from Al-Shabaab and was held in secret to avoid public scrutiny.

He warned that such deals could facilitate the registration of suspected terrorists as Kenyan citizens, potentially giving them access to travel internationally and carry out attacks in other nations.

On Saturday, Gachagua doubled down, insisting that he would not cooperate with the Kenyan government, claiming instead that he is only answerable to the United States Senate, which he says is currently probing the matter.

“If there is a need for us to help in investigations, we will help the American Senate, not the Kenyan government,” he said defiantly.

Gachagua’s remarks have sent ripples through political and security circles, prompting backlash from government officials who view them as reckless and inflammatory.