The Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has criticized the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for moving forward with charges against the Members of Parliament in Embakasi Central and North, calling it an antiquated political maneuver meant to intimidate opponents of the government.
The embroiled DP, who seems to have taken a different direction in opposing the government, said that he’s embarrassed by the move. He likened it to old means of quelling government critiques and termed it harassment of his staff and members of parliament perceived to be his close associates.
“President William Ruto and I, on assuming office, gave an undertaking to the People of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of police,” Gachagua said.
“I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were. Harassment of my office and Members of Parliament perceived to be close to me has been going on for the last two months,” he added.
The DP has also described the move as a scheme to assocaite the lawmakers with violent demonstrations in June as a trigger for his impeachment. He continued by saying that Kenyans are wise people who understand what led them to the streets and who is to blame.
“This evil scheme is to associate them with violent demonstrations that took place in late June, in a futile attempt to soil my name and hopefully create grounds for the mooted impeachment proceedings against me,” he stated.
“Kenyans are very intelligent people. They know what factors made the people of Kenya take to the streets. Kenyans also know what the real problems in Kenya are. They surely know Rigathi Gachgua is not among them,” he added.
The two lawmakers, Hon. James Gakuya and Hon. Benjamin Gathiru, along with the former Embakasi West MP, Hon. George Theuri, and Mr. Pius G. Munene, are set to be charged on three accounts: inciting people to commit offenses, conspiring to commit felony, and money laundering activities.
The DCI, on their inquiry into the matter, linked the four individuals to June 25, 2024, a fateful day that shook President Ruto’s administration after demonstrators stormed the parliament, leaving MPs to scamper for their safety.
