NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the government is planning to arrest him over his recent comments about Chief Justice Martha Koome.
Speaking on Thursday, February 27, at the launch of Martha Karua’s People’s Liberation Party, Gachagua alleged that authorities had intended to arrest him the previous weekend following his remarks in Meru, where he warned against a supposed plan to remove CJ Koome from office.
“The other day I said that they should leave Martha Koome alone or there would be consequences, and they wanted to arrest me,” Gachagua stated.
He added that he was ready for any legal action against him, maintaining that his statements were in defense of the judiciary’s independence.
Gachagua dismissed the alleged plan to silence him, insisting that he would not be intimidated.
“Every day, they are planning to arrest me. But I want to tell them: jails were built for men and women. The cells of today are made of bricks and have washrooms inside. That is an improvement from where I was born,” he said.
He also urged opposition leaders to remain steadfast in their criticism of the government.
Gachagua’s remarks in Meru had sparked calls for action from some leaders, who demanded that the police and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) take action against him.
This was after he declared that President William Ruto would no longer be welcome in Meru County if CJ Koome were ousted.
