Gachagua Denies Being Behind Targeting Uhuru, His Farm While in Govt: "I Had No Authority"

• Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua denied any role or authority over the treatment of retired president Uhuru Kenyatta or his properties
• Gachagua explained that the withdrawal of security personnel from Uhuru, including bodyguards provided by Mama Ngina, was done under Ruto’s orders
• He recounted that Ruto personally visited Uhuru at his Northlands farm after Uhuru declined to meet at State House
• Gachagua accused Ruto of continuing to interfere in Jubilee Party affairs to weaken Uhuru’s influence, despite promises to stop

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

In the early days of the Kenya Kwanza administration, former president Uhuru Kenyatta found himself at the center of intense political and social turbulence.

From accusations of leaving government coffers empty to allegations of orchestrating chaos against the new government, Uhuru became a frequent target of criticism.

One of the most distressing incidents involved an attack on Uhuru’s Northlands farm, where armed assailants allegedly broke in, stole property, and set parts of the farm ablaze.

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This brazen attack, which took place amid protests led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, was marked by a slow and seemingly hesitant police response.

Many observers speculated that the attackers operated with some form of protection from high-ranking officials.

Who authorised attacks on Uhuru

In a recent interview on Obinna TV, former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua addressed these controversies, shedding light on his role, or lack thereof, during that turbulent period.

He emphatically denied any involvement or authority over the treatment of the retired president or his properties.

Gachagua explained that any matters concerning a retired president, whether positive or negative, require the direct approval of the sitting president.

According to him, the withdrawal of security personnel from Uhuru, including bodyguards assigned by Mama Ngina, was authorised by President William Ruto himself, not by any other official.

"Many things have been said and it's important that we put it on record. Okay. That any issue to do with a retired president, whether positive or negative, can only be undertaken with the full authority of the current president. There is nobody else who can authorise anything of a retired president outside the president. I was just a principal assistant to the president. I had no authority over a president.

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That is his peer. They are at the same level. So, any mistreatment done to Uhuru Kenyatta, his property in Northlands, anything done, whether positive or negative, I want to put it here today on record, has the full authority of President William Ruto. Because that's the way protocol works," he stressed.

Did Ruto fulfil his promises to Uhuru

Gachagua further recounted an occasion when Ruto personally visited Uhuru at his Northlands farm.

The visit came after Ruto had invited Uhuru to State House, a meeting the former president declined, instead insisting that Ruto come to his farm.

Gachagua also accused Ruto of being behind various attempts to undermine Uhuru’s influence within the Jubilee Party.

He claimed that the cases aimed at weakening Jubilee’s hold and stripping Uhuru’s control had been sponsored by Ruto, efforts which, according to Gachagua, continue to this day despite promises made to cease such interference.

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"When he went to see president Uhuru Kenyatta in Ichaweri, he promised to stop interfering with Jubilee, but he is still interfering," Gachagua said.

He also revealed that promises made regarding the payment of dues for Uhuru’s workers and guards remain unfulfilled to this date.

How did Kenyan journalist corner Gachagua

As earlier reported, during an interview on Weru TV, Gachagua sharply accused Ruto of sending allies to “insult” the retired president.

Gachagua allegedly told Ruto to confront Uhuru himself if he wished to criticise him.

A journalist then asked who had sent Gachagua to attack Uhuru and Raila Odinga during the 2022 campaigns, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke