Limuru chaos probe: Gachagua allies summoned by DCI, claim intimidation by State

Allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have called out President William Ruto over what they say is his use of security agencies to intimidate opponents of his administration.

The leaders, who accompanied Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa to honor DCI summons in Nyeri over chaos witnessed at a burial in Kiambu County six days ago, warned Ruto against taking the country back to the dark days of old.

After sitting through a five-hour session with investigators, the Senator was asked to present himself at DCI headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday for further questioning.

Former Limuru Member of Parliament Peter Mwathi turned up to support the Senator, claiming that he was abducted by police after the incident.

"This is part of the intimidation, trying to make sure we don’t serve our people. I come from Kiambu, we are in Nyeri, I don’t know why they summoned us here. Then after we come here, they tell us we have to go back to Nairobi," said Thang'wa.

"With me here are summons to appear without fail tomorrow at 8a.m. at DCI Nairobi to answer charges of what I don’t know," Mwathi added.

The leaders said they’re being persecuted for publicly supporting former DP Gachagua and opposing the government.

"We are sleeping in fear, we are driving in fear. We are not even attending church because we fear we will be abducted along the way. It is time for us to speak because things are not going well," Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba said.

"The people you are harassing, we are the people that voted for you. The powers you are exercising, we have donated them to you," Nyandarua Senator John Methu added.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu added: "If we allow our country to slide to where it is going, then we may as well have in the future somebody knocked down by a motor vehicle and asked to compensate the vehicle owner because that is exactly what is happening here. Senator Karungo was a victim and is now being turned into a villain."

Some of the charges leveled against the two are malicious damage to property, assault, and alleged involvement in facilitating the chaos witnessed at the burial.

"We are ready to face our accusers head-on and we are telling them to prepare and prepare their arsenals properly for an engaging legal gymnastics," Thangwa's lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, said.

"The State knows very well who the attackers were. They planned it. They even kidnapped the local MCA and Honorable Mwathi, and therefore it is a time we thought carefully about the rule of law," Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo added.

The leaders sought to engage members of the public shortly after departing DCI offices. They were however dispersed by the police.

However, residents turned against the police officers, forcing them to scamper for safety.