Gachagua Responds To Ruto’s Directives To Police, Urging Them To Shoot Looters

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday responded to President William Ruto’s recent directives regarding protest management, which included instructing police to use force against looters and warning those attacking police installations.

President Ruto had earlier cautioned Kenyans against torching police stations and assaulting officers, asserting that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure such actions cease.

In a subsequent press conference, former Deputy President Gachagua offered advice to President Ruto on de-escalating the country’s tense political climate.

“To President Ruto, I say this with a lot of humility: please stop being angry, the people of Kenya are far more angry than you are,” Gachagua stated.

He further suggested measures for resolution:

“If you truly want this to end, then restore the dignity of the payslip. When the middle class can breathe, they will create jobs for our young people. Stop the abductions, stop the extra-judicial killings. And if you want this to end, disband the killer squad.”

Gachagua also claimed that allies of President Ruto had threatened to prevent him from traveling to the United States, where he plans to engage with Kenyans in the Diaspora and the international community regarding the “state of the nation.”

“I want to announce to the people of Kenya that tonight I will be travelling to the United States of America to talk to the Kenyans in Diaspora and the international community about the state of the nation,” Gachagua stated. “I would have wanted to stay in the country at this very difficult time when our people are under siege, but I have engagements I am not able to postpone.”

He concluded by addressing the alleged threats:

“I have been threatened by people close to William Ruto who called some of my people today that they would like to stop me from leaving the country. I have no problem, if you want to come and arrest me at the airport as you were threatening us, I have no problem. You cannot sell fear to us and even if you do, we cannot buy.