Gachagua: I didn't fund protests, stop lying to Kenyans

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vehemently denied claims linking him to the recent protests, dismissing the allegations as false and unfounded.

Speaking in response to widespread speculation about some alleged financiers, Gachagua asked why authorities failed to act if they had credible intelligence. 

“If they had intelligence that goons had been paid by Rigathi or anybody else, why didn’t they arrest these goons?” he posed during a TV interview.

He also scoffed at reports suggesting the chaos amounted to a civilian coup attempt, arguing that if those behind the unrest were truly under his command, the outcome would have been drastically different. 

“If these were my goons, I want to tell you today, they would have been shot dead or be in custody,” he said.

In his address on Thursday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen claimed the organisers were attempting to orchestrate a coup.

“The plan was to take symbols of authority and democracy, which is Parliament and State House, to show that they had achieved some sort of regime change,” Murkomen said.

Gachagua further questioned how unarmed individuals allegedly managed to storm and take over a police station.

“If there was such intelligence, why didn’t they act on it?” he questioned, calling out Murkomen directly. 

"He must respect the people and stop taking them for fools.”

The DCP leader also challenged the government's response to the protests during the day.

“Why were the looters not arrested or shot?"

He said if indeed someone had sent them, they should be arrested to help in investigations to establish the truth.

President William Ruto has condemned what he termed as “anarchy dressed in freedom colours” and “disorder disguised as democracy,” warning those responsible that they would face justice.

"I expect the Inspector General and all relevant security agencies to conduct immediate, thorough, and speedy investigations," he directed.

"The perpetrators must be identified, unmasked, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

He also warned some politicians for allegedly exploiting youth grievances to incite violence. 

He urged them to seek leadership through democratic means, not destruction.

“Those who want power must convince Kenyans at the ballot, not burn down what others have built,” he said.