Gachagua Reveals Reasons Behind His Protests No Show
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has explained his absence from the June 25 protests, claiming it was a planned display of respect for Kenya’s youth.
During a Friday evening interview with NTV, Gachagua recalled the attitude adopted by young protestors during last year’s march.
His comments came amid continuous controversy over political elites’ involvement in the recent protests.
The former DP stated that his attendance at the protests may have fueled recurring charges.
Protest And Chaos: Gachagua's Take
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 27, 2025
Gachagua: The 2024 Gen Z protests is what caused a rift between President Ruto and I. He called them criminals; I said they’re not—they're my sons and daughters and deserve to be heard, not massacred.#RigathiAndRage pic.twitter.com/rvmGEkzXSz
Such involvement, he contended, may have led to accusations that he was financially funding the demonstrations with the goal of overthrowing the current administration.
Gachagua also used the interview to adamantly deny funding the “goons” that destroyed property in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during the Wednesday disturbance.
He instead accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murjomen of attempting to mislead Kenyans by leveling spurious allegations against him.
“Gen Zs asked us to stay away from the protests and rightly so because they don’t want to be owned by anyone,” Gachagua said.
“Had I joined them on Wednesday, it would’ve fuelled false claims that I fund them.”
Protest And Chaos: Gachagua's Take
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) June 27, 2025
Gachagua: If I funded goons, why weren’t they arrested? If they were mine, they’d have been shot. How did unarmed goons take over a police station? The Interior CS must respect Kenyans — people are not that stupid.#RigathiAndRage pic.twitter.com/w3LWSpU08o
He added, “If I funded goons, why weren’t they arrested? If they were mine, they’d have been shot. How did unarmed goons take over a police station? The Interior CS must respect Kenyans.”
While criticising Murkomen, the former DP accused the CS of profiling the Kikuyu ethnic group by claiming that the majority of the demonstrators who destroyed property were from the Mt Kenya region.
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He blamed the robbery and damage of property on a well-planned strategy by some pro-government politicians, who he said paid goons to infiltrate the nonviolent Gen Z protests.
Gachagua also responded to President William Ruto’s words, in which he stated that he was willing to step aside if those opposing his leadership offered him a better strategy for the country.
In response, the former DP encouraged the President to resign or face constitutional removal through the ballot in 2027.
“I don’t think anyone wants to overthrow William Ruto, all these allegations that the protests were aimed at overthrowing him are baseless, they are empty gimmicks from his boys trying to hype and cheat him from seeing the reality that Kenyans are agitating for reforms,” the former DP said.
Gachagua Reveals Reasons Behind His Protests No Show
