Gachagua claims Ruto ordered he be 'dealt with once and for all'

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that President William Ruto will be the one to blame if anything happens to him or if he is harmed in any way.

Addressing a press conference in Karen, Nairobi, Gachagua on Monday alleged that security officers from several State intelligence agencies were trailing him on Sunday while he attended a church service in Gatanga, Murang’a County.

He claimed the officers intended to throw poison-laced tear gas at him.

“I received intelligence reports that President Ruto had ordered that I be dealt with once and for all. A killer squad of 101 officers from the National Police Service, National Intelligence Service, General Service Unit, and regular police was deployed yesterday to commit a heinous act against us,” he said.

Gachagua also claimed that security officers had a plot to plant illegal weapons in his vehicles and those of leaders who support him.

He said President Ruto has also ordered that his personal bodyguards be stripped of their firearms, even though they have licenses to own them.

According to the former DP who was impeached last October after falling out with Ruto, the government is targeting him because he has exposed alleged wrongdoing being perpetrated by top government officials.

“Any attempt to stop me is a zero chance. It’s Kenyans who won’t be intimidated by the criminal justice system,” Gachagua said.

He said he won’t stop criticising President Ruto’s administration, adding that his controversial remarks about the upcoming general election have been misrepresented.

In a recent interview with the YouTube channel Obinna TV, Gachagua argued that if the election is “messed with” and President William Ruto “forced on Kenyans”, the country would witness more violence than recorded after the 2007 elections, where over a thousand people were killed. 

On Monday, he said his comments were just a warning to the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission) to prepare a free and fair election.

Regarding the alleged plan to arrest him, Gachagua said he has not been summoned to appear before any security officials.

“I am here if they want to arrest me, don’t wait for me on the roads,” he said.