National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya of being linked to the rising cases of abductions in the country.
Speaking during the funeral of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s mother on Friday, January 3, Ichung’wah alleged that Gachagua orchestrated abductions to discredit President William Ruto’s administration.
“Gachagua was the orchestrator of abductions so that he could put the blame on President Ruto,” Ichung’wah claimed.
Ichung’wah also attacked Natembeya, who was present at the burial, accusing him of failing to act against abductions during his tenure as the Rift Valley Regional Commissioner.
“Shame on you, Governor Natembeya. You cannot complain about abductions when you were at the forefront of violating Kenyans’ rights under the last regime,” Ichung’wah remarked.
The remarks were in response to Natembeya’s earlier statement during the burial, where he called for an end to abductions and condemned the use of social media to spread hate speech.
“We want abductions to end. People should not be killed or abducted for their actions on social media,” Natembeya noted.
However, his comments were met with hostility from the mourners, with some jeering at him, highlighting the political rivalry between him and Wetang’ula.
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George Natembeya
Ichung’wah accused Natembeya of promoting divisive politics in the Western region and attempting to create ethnic rifts among communities.
“Your divisive politics will not succeed. The people of this region will not fall victim to your incitement,” Ichung’wah asserted.
He also linked Natembeya to the River Yala killings and the controversial Mau Forest evictions, accusing him of being complicit in past atrocities.
“When you were the Regional Commissioner, you presided over killings and dumped bodies in River Yala. Shame on you,” he added.
The heated exchange comes amid increased cases of abductions across the country, with the latest incident involving six youths abducted during the Christmas period. Families have been left distraught, pleading for government intervention to locate their missing loved ones.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been vocal about the issue, calling on the government to expedite investigations and ensure justice for the victims.
The abduction crisis has sparked public outcry, with leaders exchanging blame over the surge in such incidents. The government has yet to provide concrete solutions, as families await answers regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones.
