Gachagua Emphasizes Ruto–Al-Shabaab Allegations During Citizen TV Interview
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again stirred political debate after using a Citizen TV interview on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, to revisit his earlier claims linking President William Ruto to alleged secret meetings with Al-Shabaab leaders.
Speaking in a firm tone, Gachagua maintained that the matter is serious and cannot be ignored, but he insisted that he would not release any new details to Kenyan authorities because the issue is already under investigation by the United States Senate.
During the interview, Gachagua distanced himself from being the originator of the allegations, stressing that he was only responding to questions raised abroad.
He explained that the claims came from a U.S. Senate inquiry led by Senator James Risch, who is reportedly pushing for a review of Kenya’s status as a NATO ally due to concerns about possible ties between government officials and non-state armed groups.
Gachagua said his role was only to ensure the concerns were tabled before the American government, Congress, and Senate for scrutiny.
The former deputy president also made it clear that he had no intention of engaging Kenya’s investigative bodies, arguing that doing so would interfere with the ongoing foreign inquiry. “I didn’t make the allegation; I was simply asking the President to respond,” he said, repeating that the matter is under the jurisdiction of U.S. institutions.
His remarks have drawn sharp reactions, with leaders allied to President Ruto dismissing the claims as reckless and misleading.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has already asked Gachagua to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) once he returns to Kenya, saying such explosive claims cannot be left hanging in public without evidence.
Mandera Senator Ali Roba, who accompanied Ruto during his official visit to the region, has also dismissed the allegations, noting that all meetings during the president’s trip were public and accounted for.
Analysts, however, have warned that the back-and-forth between Ruto and Gachagua over the matter risks creating mistrust at a time when Kenya is facing security challenges.
They argue that unverified allegations about terror links, if not conclusively addressed, could damage the country’s reputation abroad and fuel unnecessary political divisions at home.
For now, the spotlight remains on Gachagua as many wait to see whether he will hand over evidence, either to U.S. investigators or Kenyan security agencies, to back his sensational remarks.
Until then, the controversy continues to raise questions about the depth of Kenya’s internal political rifts and the impact of exporting such disputes to the international stage.
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