Gachagua: What went wrong on June 25 and why Ruto, Murkomen are to blame

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has blamed the State, claiming that goons were allowed to loot and destroy property on Wednesday as part of a plot to make him look like the author of the chaos.

The protests, which marked the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 demonstrations that saw Gen Zs storm Parliament, led to the deaths of 19 people and injuries to 400 others, not to mention widespread looting and destruction of property.

When the guns fell silent and the choking air cleared, fingers were pointing at Mr Gachagua for sponsoring the infiltration of peaceful protests by goons for political gain.

However, in an exclusive interview with NTV, Mr Gachagua dismissed the allegations, instead blaming the state, President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. He accused the state of sponsoring the goons who interfered with the protests.

Mr Gachagua claimed that it was a well-orchestrated plot by Murkomen to cause chaos and blame it on popular leaders in the Mount Kenya region.

He questioned how police stations and other government installations, which are manned by armed security agencies, could be attacked by unarmed protesters. Mr Gachagua accused officers of supervising the goons and allowing them to access the stations and set them on fire.

“The Gen Zs were not violent. This was brought about by infiltration by goons brought with motorcycles. If they were my goons, they would have been shot dead or arrested and questioned to reveal who funded them. You do not need rocket science to know who has sponsored the goons if you see them conversing with police officers,” said Mr Gachagua.

He claimed that many protesters were arrested, yet those who looted property and the police who brutalised people have not been held accountable.

Mr Gachagua added that Dr Ruto had not learnt from the spontaneous June 2024 protests, saying that under pressure, President Ruto had promised to address these issues, but only partially did so before relaxing after striking a deal with ODM leader Raila. He denied funding the protests, describing the current movement as amorphous.

“The Gen Zs don’t need anyone to fund them, they are leaderless, and lack structure. I ask myself how I can plan activities in more than 26 counties. We have the National Intelligence Service, where were they? If they did not know, then they slept on the job. If they knew and did not act, then they failed in stopping violence and anarchy,” said Mr Gachagua.

He defended his previous remarks where he supported the police for quelling demonstrations that resulted in many deaths.

“I did not support the use of excessive force. When there are peaceful protests, police have the mandate to protect lives and property. I would have said they have done a good job, had they done this,” said Mr Gachagua.

He accused Mr Murkomen of being excited with power following his directives for the police to deal with protesters decisively.

“Murkomen is a young excited CS full of power. I had a problem with Ruto when he wanted to appoint Murkomen as CS Interior then, I believed that the position needed a more mature and calm person. A police station is a public institution, members of the public have the right to access it. You should arrest them if they turn out with any other intention, not kill them,” said Mr Gachagua.

He challenged Mr Murkomen to arrest him if he believed that he had sponsored the violence.

He claimed that senior police officers who ordered the killing of innocent Kenyans are at home while the junior officers who carried out the orders are in police custody.

“Do not take those silly directives about shoot-to-kill by Kipchumba Murkomen. You make an illegal move and you will sink alone. Do not follow illegal orders and if he insists, let him direct you through a written document."

He added: “Those suspected officers are in custody facing justice. The one said to have directed them is comfortably in his house doing his thing. That is how President William Ruto and company are users. You will mess up individually and be thrown under the bus.”

When asked why he never joined the demonstrators, he admitted that he had been following the protests from home, saying that he had heeded Gen Zs call for politicians to keep out of their activities.

"Gen Zs are very bright people, marvellous young people, intelligent and I have tremendous respect for them. They know who they can trust in this country," he said.

Mr Gachagua, who was impeached in October last year, said he lost his job because "I sacrificed it to speak for the young people who were being massacred and when everyone was demonising them".

“It is these young people, who will look at the political landscape and will decide where they want to place their trust, I think they are intelligent enough to know what they want to do. I do not want to force myself on Gen Z. Every time, I am always being accused of funding them. What has happened is they have appreciated and associated with me because I am always being accused of funding them and being their leaders,” said Gachagua.

He condemned the withdrawal of security for former Chief Justice David Maraga, describing it as petty.

“Going to show solidarity is part of democracy. It is petty to withdraw the security of former Chief Justice David Maraga because he stood with the young people. That is how petty this government is,” he said.

He stressed that President Ruto's attempts to create division among mountain leaders through chaos would not succeed.

“The people from the mountain are well enlightened. Mr Ruto drove a narrative that made us turn against Uhuru, they have seen through that scheme and will never turn against their leader," he said.

He denied claims that he is a tribal bigot and said officials of the Democracy for Citizens Party represent the face of Kenya.

He also said that his viral 'Cousin' tag is not ethnic, but unites people as a family.

“When he and Raila (Odinga) get together, that is national integration, but when Gachagua sits with Kalonzo (Musyoka) and (Fred) Matiang'i, it is tribalism. If you agree to sing his song, you are a nationalist. William Ruto cannot dictate for me how I relate with my brothers. I am looking for my cousins like Kambas because the language we speak is almost the same, Mijikenda are my cousins, Maasais are my in-laws,” said Mr Gachagua.

The DCP leader also denied allegations that the protests were a coup attempt.

“I have never advocated for the removal from office of President Ruto through unconstitutional means. I am a believer of the rule of law, I want him to be removed through the ballot. Kenyans are gracious enough to allow Ruto finish his one term and that is why I am talking about Wantam (one term) not half term,” he said.

He went on: "I want to tell him that Kenyans have decided that he will be Wantam and he will go. The decision on how you go is yours. There are two ways, you can resign and go home with dignity or wait for the people to remove you through the ballot. The claims that there was a coup or overthrowing the government, is nonsense."

He denied claims that he is anti-media.

He said that the government-ordered shutdown of live coverage of the protests was deliberate, in order to prevent the looting from being recorded.

“I have never been against the media, I have never been critical of the media and that is why I grant interviews so that I can give answers to any question. I am a creation of the media; I will never support attempts to gag the media. The switching off (of NTV and KTN on Wednesday) should have never happened. The hallmark of any democracy is media freedom because Kenyans are entitled to information,” he said.

He added: "Ruto should not interfere with media freedom. He is taking us back to the dark day where people are tortured in police cells."

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