NAIROBI, Kenya – Allies of President William Ruto are calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his alleged role in instigating the violent anti-government protests held on Wednesday, June 25.
The protests, dubbed a Gen Z memorial, turned chaotic in several towns, leading to looting, injuries, and multiple fatalities.
Now, senior Kenya Kwanza politicians are accusing Gachagua and the opposition of orchestrating what they described as “domestic terrorism.”
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, and Ruto’s long-time political ally Farouk Kibet issued a joint condemnation of the violence, urging swift action from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the judiciary.
“Anybody can picket or demonstrate or present a petition. But what happened on Wednesday was not protest—it was mayhem. I want to hear religious leaders condemn that,” Wetangula said.
Senator Cheruiyot added that other democracies, including the United States and the UK, have responded swiftly to such lawlessness.
“Last year, there were demonstrations in Liverpool. Within three weeks, those who destroyed property were jailed. Two weeks ago, there were protests in Los Angeles—those responsible are now in jail. Kenya must do the same,” he said.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions between President Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who has grown increasingly critical of the administration’s response to protests.
In a statement on June 26, Gachagua accused the Ruto-led government of turning the country into a police state by deploying excessive force against unarmed youth demonstrators.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the use of excessive force and live bullets by the Police on peaceful and unarmed Gen Z protesters,” said Gachagua, terming the crackdown as a “tragic abuse of power.”
However, government leaders now allege that Gachagua is inciting unrest by encouraging the youth to take to the streets.
Farouk Kibet suggested that those who fuel the protests should face legal consequences.
“This is no longer about freedom of assembly—it is about calculated sabotage. The judiciary must not remain silent when anarchy is dressed up as activism,” Kibet said.
