MP Aden Daud slams Gachagua, accuses him of ethnic profiling in Minnesota fraud remarks

Wajir East Member of Parliament Aden Daud has strongly condemned remarks former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's recent remarks, describing them as reckless, divisive and a threat to national unity.

In a statement on Monday, the MP accused Gachagua of engaging in ethnic profiling by making unsubstantiated claims against the Somali community.

The former Deputy President recently alleged that funds fraudulently obtained from Minnesota in the United States were funnelled into Kenya to construct commercial malls and finance political activities.

Daud warned that such claims risk reigniting ethnic tensions in a country that has made significant strides towards peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities.

“These allegations amount to dangerous ethnic profiling and have no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law,” the legislator said.

He argued that the remarks fit into what he termed a long-standing pattern of ethnically charged rhetoric by Gachagua, which, he noted, culminated in his impeachment by both Houses of Parliament in October 2024.

The Wajir East MP further recalled previous statements in which Gachagua allegedly likened the Kenyan government to a shareholding entity, where public appointments and resources would be allocated based on perceived electoral ‘shares’ held by different communities. 

Such thinking, Daud said, alienated large sections of the population and contravened the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

Despite his removal from office, the MP said, Gachagua had shown little restraint, continuing to advance narratives that threaten social harmony.

He cautioned that singling out the Somali community in allegations of illicit financial flows could sow unnecessary discord among communities that have historically coexisted peacefully.

“The Somali and Kikuyu communities, among others, have built strong business ties, mutual respect and shared prosperity across Kenya,” Daud said. “There is no inherent conflict between them, and any attempt to manufacture one only undermines the unity that is the bedrock of our Republic.”

The legislator emphasised that any alleged criminal activity, whether committed locally or abroad, should be investigated and prosecuted through established legal channels, without generalising blame to entire communities.

He defended legitimate investments by Kenyans of Somali origin, saying they reflect entrepreneurship and contribution to national development, not wrongdoing.

Daud called on Gachagua to abandon what he described as a divisive path and urged all leaders to exercise responsibility in public discourse. He also appealed to relevant authorities to remain vigilant against statements that could amount to incitement and threaten peace and stability.

“Kenya belongs to all of us, and we must guard it jealously against those who seek to fracture it for narrow political gain,” he said.