Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has denied accusations of doublespeak on excesses by the National Police Service.
The former DP rubbished assertions that he changed his stance on police brutality, insisting he never called for the killing of demonstrators while in government.
Why is Gachagua accused of doublespeak?
The comments were prompted by a flurry of resurfaced videos and statements from 2023 showing Gachagua, then serving as the deputy president, urging police to stand firm against protesters.
At the time, demonstrations had erupted in response to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s first budget and tax proposals.
“I want to encourage our officers in uniform, the gallant men and women who have lived up to their oath of office to protect life and property from criminals. We want to urge our officers to stay put and not be bothered by unnecessary criticism. If those people do not want the police on the streets, all they need to do is keep off the streets. Had they not come to the streets, our policemen would not have left the police lines.Don’t sit there and imagine that you can destroy property, kill people, and the police can come and kiss you,” he had declared in Murang’a back then, defending security forces accused of heavy-handedness.
Gachagua also regularly warned protestors that they would face the full force of the law, drawing sharp criticism from civil society and opposition leaders.
Kenyans online widely circulated his old clips, accusing him of hypocrisy now that he is outside government and seemingly more sympathetic to the protestors’ demands.
How did Gachagua defend his past remarks?
During an interview with Meru media stations on Friday, June 20, Gachagua defended his past remarks made while he was still in office.
Gachagua claimed that his position was consistently rooted in the law, arguing that while he supported the police in maintaining order, he never endorsed violence or extrajudicial killings.
“As I said, the police should do their work within the law. At no point did I say people should be killed by the police. The police should act within the law and use what is called necessary force and that’s what I supported,” Gachagua said.
According to him, the turning point came on June 26, 2024, stating that while still holding the powerful office of deputy president, he publicly condemned the police for fatally shooting young protestors.
“The day the killings started is when I fell out with William Ruto. Remember, I went to Mombasa and held a press conference where I said it was wrong to kill Gen Z protesters. And I was still in office. So no one should claim I’ve changed my tune just because I’m now out of government. On June 26, while still Deputy President, I went to Mombasa and publicly condemned the killing of young people by the police. I’m on record,” Gachagua said.
