Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that security personnel in unmarked vehicles have been shadowing his movements. On Wednesday night, he voiced his fears for his safety and urged Kenyans to hold the government accountable if anything happens to him.
“In this era of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions, and disappearances orchestrated by state agents, I feel compelled to inform Kenyans about the harassment and intimidation I am facing. Should I come to harm, the state must bear responsibility,” he stated.
Gachagua appealed to the authorities to stop targeting him. “You forced me out of office. Now, let me live in peace as a private citizen,” he added.
He described how vehicles have been stationed outside his Nairobi residence, noting the comings and goings of his visitors and tailing him to various locations, including his rural home in Nyeri. Sharing a photo of one such vehicle on social media, Gachagua highlighted an incident from the past Sunday.
“The saloon car parked at my residence followed me to PCEA Kerarapon Church, tracked me to a lunch spot, and back to my home. When I checked the vehicle’s registration on the NTSA portal, I discovered the number plates were registered to a lorry,” he revealed.
Gachagua likened this alleged surveillance to the practices of the infamous ‘Special Branch’ during earlier times.
Efforts to get an official response from Police Spokesperson Resila Onyango and Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. However, The Star has promised to publish any updates with equal prominence.
In a related matter, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) recently dismissed claims that detectives tried to block Gachagua from attending a church event. Gachagua and his associates had attended a service at Priesthood Fellowship Church in Kahawa West, Nairobi, on November 10, amidst allegations of police interference.
The DCI refuted these claims, stating that the reported use of an unmarked Subaru by their officers was baseless.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin reaffirmed the agency’s adherence to the law, stating, “The DCI operates within the framework of the law and does not interfere in the liberties of individuals or institutions.”
Gachagua was subsequently assigned four security officers following his assertion that his life was under threat due to political tensions.
