NAIROBI, Kenya – Members of Parliament have called for the immediate arrest of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over remarks they say could incite ethnic tensions and take Kenya back to the dark days of the 2007 post-election violence.
The call came during a heated debate in the National Assembly, after Minority Whip Junet Mohamed raised an adjournment motion on what he described as a matter of urgent national importance.
Junet accused Gachagua of making reckless statements that threaten peace and national unity.
“It is very sad to see someone who once served as Deputy President now inciting people to violence.But I am glad this House made the decision to impeach him. Now Kenyans understand why. The same man we removed is now spreading hate, calling for the displacement of people, and threatening the country’s peace,”said Junet.
Junet further accused Gachagua of promoting dangerous ideas that suggest some Kenyans are more deserving of rights than others.
“He’s telling people that unless they follow his party and way of thinking, they are not valid Kenyans. This is not leadership it is recklessness. This is someone who has lost direction and wants to drag the country into conflict,” he stated.
Lawmakers from both the government and opposition supported Junet’s remarks, saying Gachagua’s words were unacceptable, especially coming from someone who held such a high public office.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah strongly condemned Gachagua for comparing the 2007 violence to a festive occasion.
“This is not just a man with a dark heart it is a man with a dark soul. To compare the deaths and suffering of 2007 to a Christmas party is shameful. That tragic moment in our history is why we created bodies like NCIC,” he said.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo called for legal action against Gachagua. He suggested that Parliament could start a petition to bar the former DP from ever holding public office again.
“No one should speak lightly about the 2007 violence. That event nearly destroyed our nation. We formed institutions like the NCIC and EACC to prevent such divisions. This is not just politics it’s about protecting Kenya,” said Amollo.
He urged the Speaker to guide the House on how to proceed with legal measures and told NCIC and other authorities to act fast.
“The NCIC must take this matter seriously. They need to show they are not selective. If Gachagua’s actions go unpunished, we send the wrong message to the public,” Amollo said.
Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei also criticized NCIC, accusing it of applying double standards.
She said Gachagua’s remarks were especially hurtful to people from Uasin Gishu, which was heavily affected during the 2007 violence.
“My people are deeply offended. Why hasn’t the former DP been arrested? NCIC cannot pick and choose who to act against. The law must apply to everyone equally,” she said.
South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro questioned Gachagua’s state of mind and accused him of caring only about his local community.
“Everything he says is about his village his area. That is a mental problem I call ‘village-isis.’ Even the meetings he holds are only in his home area. He needs to see a doctor,” said Osoro.
But not all MPs agreed with the call for arrest. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo however didn’t agree with the call for the arrest,warning that silencing political speech, could be dangerous for democracy.
“The danger in attacking the messenger is thinking you’ve killed the message. Even if it’s the devil speaking, let Kenyans listen. We may disagree, but we must protect freedom of speech,” Oundo said.
He added that Parliament should focus on more pressing national matters and avoid giving too much attention to what he called a ‘political non entity.’
“We must learn from our history. When we silence voices, even wrong ones, we risk sliding into anarchy,” he said.
