Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has strongly dismissed claims made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that a special police unit had been deployed to assassinate him.
Murkomen described the allegations as politically motivated and accused Gachagua of making sensational statements to attract public attention whenever major national events occur.
Speaking during a press briefing after issuing a security update on the June 25 nationwide demonstrations, Murkomen said the former Deputy President had developed a habit of turning issues of national concern into personal political narratives.
According to the Interior CS, Gachagua’s claims that his life was in danger were not new and should not be taken seriously. Murkomen argued that the former Deputy President often makes such statements whenever the country is focused on significant events.
“Most of the things he was talking about, including claims that he was going to be assassinated, are simply meant to attract attention. He is a clout chaser. Whenever there is an issue that captures public interest, he wants to make it about himself,” Murkomen said.
The Cabinet Secretary was responding to a statement issued by Gachagua on June 24, in which the former Deputy President alleged that a police unit he had previously accused of plotting to kill him had been redeployed to Nyeri County ahead of the June 25 demonstrations.
In his statement, Gachagua claimed that officers operating under the code name “Nairobi Sierra” had assembled in the Mathira area and were preparing to carry out attacks within the region.
He alleged that the officers had been assigned a dangerous mission and warned that residents should remain alert.
Gachagua further claimed that the same group of officers had allegedly been involved in an earlier incident during a church service in Othaya earlier this year.
According to him, the officers had intended to target him during the event but failed to execute their alleged mission.
However, Murkomen dismissed those allegations, saying Gachagua had repeatedly made similar accusations in the past against government officials serving in previous administrations.
The Interior CS noted that this was not the first time the former Deputy President had accused senior government officials of plotting against him.
He pointed out that Gachagua had previously made similar claims against the former Interior minister but had since appeared to have developed a cordial relationship with the same individual.
“I am used to his repeated attacks. This is not something new. Even during the previous administration, he made similar allegations against the former minister. Interestingly, today he appears to be very comfortable with that same minister and no longer raises the issues he used to talk about,” Murkomen stated.
Murkomen also criticised Gachagua over what he described as the repeated ethnic profiling of senior public officers. He argued that the former Deputy President had consistently singled out the Deputy Inspector General of Police instead of directing his concerns to Inspector General Douglas Kanja, who is the head of the National Police Service.
The Cabinet Secretary said all public officers deserved respect regardless of their background and warned against dragging security officials into political disputes for personal or political gain.
“He must respect public offices. This habit of ethnic profiling public officers for personal interests must come to an end,” Murkomen added.
The exchange between the two leaders comes in the wake of nationwide demonstrations held on June 25 to commemorate victims of the 2024 Gen Z protests.
The demonstrations attracted thousands of Kenyans in different parts of the country, with several confrontations reported between protesters and security officers.
Political leaders, human rights defenders and civil society organisations have continued to debate the government’s handling of the demonstrations, with concerns being raised over the use of force by police and the protection of constitutional rights during public protests.
Gachagua’s allegations also come at a time when Kenya continues to face growing concerns over reported cases of abductions and enforced disappearances that have been reported since the 2024 Gen Z protests.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly called for independent investigations into the incidents, arguing that those responsible should be identified and held accountable.
The groups have maintained that addressing allegations of unlawful arrests, disappearances and political intimidation is necessary to restore public confidence in the country’s security institutions and uphold the rule of law.
As debate over security and political accountability continues, the accusations and responses from senior leaders are expected to remain at the centre of national discussion.
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