‘Don’t fear death,’ Gachagua wades into viral coffin AI photos

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday waded into the ongoing controversy surrounding President William Ruto’s reaction to being depicted in caricatured silhouettes.

Gachagua argued that children playing on their phones and sharing images of a coffin should not be used to justify abduction or extrajudicial killings.

“Hakuna haja ya kuuwa watoto ati kwa sababu wameweka picha yako kwenye jeneza. Hii si sababu ya kuwachukua au kuwaua. Mungu atakuweka mahali pako siku ikifika,” Gachagua said. “Let’s not harm our children or abduct them because of caricatures. They are just playing with their phones.”

He claimed that while Ruto criticises the state of morality, his own allies openly insult others during public rallies without repercussions.

He specifically singled out controversial MP Farah Maalim, a defender of the President, for his recent offensive remarks towards Kenyans who have called for Ruto’s resignation.

According to Gachagua, even if a leader is depicted in a coffin, it doesn’t hold any weight as long as the person is still alive and well.

“Hii kuwekwa kwenye jeneza na hii matusi ya Maalim, which is worse? Si ni ya huyo Mheshimiwa?” Gachagua remarked.

 “Na hii maneno ya kuwekwa kwenye jeneza, kwani mnaogopa kifo namna gani? Si mtakufa siku moja?” Gachagua posed. “Mnaleta shida nyingi kwa picha za jeneza, lakini hata ukiwekwa kwenye jeneza, wewe bado haujakufa. Kifo ni kitu cha kawaida, kitakuja. Ni sehemu ya maisha.”

Gachagua further criticized Ruto’s past inflammatory rhetoric, reminding the President of his own controversial remarks about former leaders.

“Hii matusi yote ni wewe ulileta kwa hivyo usilalamike,” he said. “Ulituambia Uhuru Kenyatta ni mlevi na Raila Odinga ni mchawi.”

According to Gachagua, President Ruto and his allies have set a precedent for inciting insults and should not now complain about the same treatment they once initiated.