Belgut MP Nelson Koech has alleged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is facing imminent arrest by state authorities over his purported role in inciting the Gen Z-led Occupy Parliament protests of June 25, 2024, and his recent remarks about the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday morning, Koech claimed that the government views Gachagua’s statements as provocative and potentially destabilising. He further suggested that authorities are preparing to charge the former DP for incitement related to the 2024 demonstrations, which were marked by intense confrontations and public unrest.
“Rigathi Gachagua, as we speak, and a few members of Parliament, are about to be charged for what happened on June 25 last year—the invasion of Parliament and the subsequent chaos. His words have weight, and they’re not taken lightly,” Koech stated.
He accused Gachagua of repeatedly using inflammatory language, asserting that his statements had become a source of national concern. “He has a dangerous tongue. If he isn’t held accountable, then we risk normalising impunity,” Koech added.
The latest controversy stems from remarks Gachagua made during a public address on Friday, where he warned of potential violence if the IEBC attempts to rig the 2027 election. His comparison of a possible post-election scenario to the 2007/2008 post-poll violence alarmed both government officials and the public.
“If that IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here,” Gachagua said. “2007 will look like a Christmas party.”
His remarks drew swift condemnation from key state officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Kithure Kindiki, who insisted that anyone threatening national peace and stability would face the full force of the law.
Gachagua later sought to clarify his comments, saying they had been taken out of context. During a church service in Murang’a on Sunday, he denied advocating for chaos, instead warning against electoral malpractice.
“I never said there would be chaos. I only cautioned against attempts to rig the elections. Kenyans are alert, and they want free and fair polls.”
Despite the clarification, tension escalated on Sunday night when security forces reportedly surrounded Gachagua’s residences in Karen and Nyeri, signaling the state's intention to arrest him.
As pressure mounts, the unfolding situation underscores deepening political rifts ahead of the 2027 elections and raises concerns about the state’s approach to dissent and political expression.