Rigathi Gachagua Claims State Agents Are Harassing Him

• Nov 21, 2024

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that security agents in unmarked vehicles have been following him, monitoring his movements, and observing visitors to his homes in Nairobi and Nyeri. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Gachagua claimed that the agents are engaged in surveillance activities reminiscent of past government intimidation tactics.

“Security agents in unmarked cars have been following me wherever I go. They are parking at the entrance of my Nairobi residence, taking note of all my visitors, and they trail me whenever I leave the house, even all the way to my rural home in Nyeri,” Gachagua stated.

He recounted a specific incident on Sunday when a car parked at his residence followed him to PCEA Kerarapon Church, where he had lunch, and back home. Upon checking the car’s license plate through the NTSA portal, he discovered that the plates were registered to a lorry, raising further suspicion.

Gachagua described the surveillance as a form of intimidation, likening it to the methods used by the infamous "Special Branch" during President Moi’s 24-year regime. He also expressed concern over the potential risks posed by state agents in what he referred to as an era of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions, and disappearances.

“In this era of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions, and disappearances by state agents, I have thought it important to share with Kenyans the harassment and intimidation I am going through and inform them to hold the state responsible if I am harmed,” he warned.

Gachagua called on the government to cease its alleged harassment and allow him to live in peace as a private citizen, emphasizing that he has already been removed from office and should no longer be targeted.

This statement follows an earlier incident where the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) denied accusations that detectives in unmarked vehicles had attempted to stop Gachagua from attending a church service in Nairobi.

The claims have sparked public debate, with many awaiting a formal response from the government on the allegations. Meanwhile, Gachagua urged Kenyans to remain vigilant about potential abuses of power and to hold state agencies accountable for any harm that might come to him.