Gachagua Dares Ruto to Arrest Him, Vows to Lead Mt Kenya from 'Prison': "I'll Give Direction"

• Former DP Rigathi Gachagua dared President William Ruto to arrest him, claiming a plan was underway to detain him
• Gachagua said imprisonment wouldn’t silence him and vowed to lead Mt Kenya’s politics even from prison
• He further alleged the government had blocked his planned US tour, where he intended to rally diaspora support
• He warned that isolating Mt Kenya would backfire, declaring the region had already turned its back on Ruto

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

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has raised the stakes in his political tiff with President William Ruto, daring the head of state to arrest him.

In a fiery address during the funeral of nominated Nyandarua MCA Beth Wahito in Kinangop, Gachagua claimed there was a plot by the government to detain him.

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The former deputy president insisted he was ready to lead the Mt Kenya region politically even from prison.

He accused Ruto of planning the chaos witnessed during the June 25 protests, claiming that it was to be used as a smokescreen to arrest him.

Gachagua, who has increasingly styled himself as the political voice of Mt Kenya, said he is not afraid of incarceration.

Instead, he signalled that any such move would only strengthen his resolve, adding that the region had abandoned Ruto.

"Isn’t it true that even while I'm in Kamiti, I’ll dictate how things will be done? I’ll give political direction. And as for your matters here, we’ve already finished with them," he declared, referring to the infamous Kamiti Maximum Prison.

He added that even if he is detained or anything happens to him, he had already prepared a younger generation of leaders who can carry on his political mission.

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"Even if you bother me, I have within a short time mentored another generation of leaders to take over," Gachagua stated.

Is Gachagua travelling abroad?

Gachagua also touched on his planned tour to the United States, where he intends to meet Kenyans living abroad.

The former DP explained that the trip is to be used to rally both moral and financial support for his anti-government campaign.

However, he alleged there were efforts underway to stop his travel, stressing that he was happier staying at home if barred from travelling.

"I want to go to the USA, find our people, plan how they will help us. Now I hear that they want to bother me and stop me from going. Even if I fail to go, am I not just here at home; even I am happier here," Gachagua claimed.

The former second-in-command also accused Ruto of trying to isolate the Mt Kenya region politically and economically, warning that such a strategy would not succeed.

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Why does NCIC want Gachagua arrested?

Earlier, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) urged authorities to arrest Gachagua after he failed to respond to a summons over alleged hate speech

The commission accused him of making inflammatory remarks and launched investigations following his no-show.

NCIC sought enhanced powers and resources to monitor and address hate speech as Kenya heads toward the 2027 elections, warning that political tensions are rising.

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

Source: TUKO.co.ke