Nairobi, Kenya — President William Ruto has faced a political storm after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made highly controversial claims linking him to Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab.
Speaking during a Democracy for Citizens Party gathering in Nyeri, Gachagua accused President Ruto of secretly meeting with Al-Shabaab leaders in Mandera, a town near the Kenya-Somalia border. According to him, the meeting took place at night and away from public view, raising serious concerns about national security and Kenya’s fight against terrorism.
“It is both shocking and unacceptable for a Head of State to hold any kind of secret talks with terrorists who have killed countless Kenyans,” Gachagua told the crowd. “This is a betrayal of every citizen and undermines the sacrifices our brave security officers have made over the years.”
Gachagua, now the leader of the newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party after his fallout with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), also criticised Ruto’s recent policy decision to suspend certain vetting procedures for foreigners seeking Kenyan identification documents.
According to Gachagua, such a move is a direct threat to national security and could pave the way for extremists to enter Kenya more easily, obtain official identification, and even travel abroad — including to countries like the United States — under false identities. He warned that this policy shift could have dangerous consequences for both Kenya and global peace.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba moved quickly to counter Gachagua’s claims. Roba, who accompanied President Ruto throughout the entire Mandera trip, dismissed the accusations as “a calculated, malevolent lie” meant to mislead the public and gain cheap political mileage.
According to Roba, the President’s itinerary in Mandera was fully transparent and in the public domain. Ruto met only officially recognised local leaders and the general public in open forums — there were no private or secret sessions with Al-Shabaab members.
On the vetting issue, Roba clarified that President Ruto had not abolished security vetting altogether. Instead, the President had ordered the removal of what he called “discriminatory and excessive vetting procedures” that for years unfairly targeted residents of the Northern Frontier District (NFD).
Ruto’s intention, Roba said, was to ensure that all Kenyans — regardless of ethnicity or region — go through the same, fair, and constitutional vetting process.
Roba also warned that such false allegations could harm national cohesion, damage international perceptions of Kenya’s security operations, and stigmatise already marginalised communities in northern Kenya. He urged political leaders to act responsibly and avoid exploiting sensitive security issues for political gain.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also weighed in, strongly criticising Gachagua’s statements. He described the allegations as politically motivated and lacking seriousness, suggesting that Gachagua was more interested in attention than in addressing genuine security matters.
Murkomen challenged Gachagua to present his evidence to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) upon returning to Kenya. He went further, hinting that Gachagua’s mental health might be in question, and urged his associates to encourage him to seek professional help.
Gachagua, currently on a visit to the United States, refused to cooperate with Kenyan authorities. He insisted that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Senate, claiming it is already reviewing Kenya’s counter-terrorism ties and Ruto’s alleged involvement with Al-Shabaab.
In a bold move, Gachagua publicly dared Murkomen to arrest him when he returns to Kenya, even promising to announce the exact date, time, and flight details of his arrival. He accused Ruto’s government of trying to silence him and maintained that his accusations were valid.
Security analysts warn that if Gachagua’s claims were ever proven true, they could severely damage Kenya’s credibility in the global fight against terrorism, strain diplomatic relations, and potentially affect cooperation with key allies such as the United States.
Civil society groups and opposition leaders have called for transparency from the government, demanding that both State House and the Ministry of Interior address the allegations directly.
Meanwhile, ordinary Kenyans — especially those in border counties such as Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa — remain deeply concerned about the security situation.
These regions have been the target of repeated Al-Shabaab attacks over the past decade, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in Somalia since 2011.
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