NAIROBI, KENYA — Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech has alleged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is the subject of an investigation by authorities regarding the “Occupy Parliament” protests of June 25, 2024.
During an interview on Citizen TV on Monday 19, May 2025 morning, MP Koech asserted that Gachagua’s recent statements concerning the 2027 elections were sufficient grounds for prosecution. He argued that these remarks, following Gachagua’s prior criticism of the government, which preceded the Gen Z protests of June 2024, resulted in significant public disorder.
“Rigathi Gachagua, as we are talking right now, including a few members of Parliament, are about to be charged for what happened last year on June 25. The invasion of Parliament and the chaos after, and the act itself, include Rigathi Gachagua. When he issues another statement, it is not taken lightly because this is someone who has the capability of causing chaos, not by any power that he has, but through his tongue. He has a bad tongue, and if he is not charged, then he believes he is above the law,” Koech stated.
In a Friday interview, Gachagua warned that the 2027 general elections could potentially replicate the 2007/2008 post-election violence, citing widespread public anger.
“With the mood in the country, if that IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here. I want to tell you that 2007 will look like a Christmas party,” Gachagua stated. “I want to tell those commissioners to be Kenyans and to be patriotic and not to attempt to force William Ruto on the people of Kenya. It will not work. The people of Kenya will not accept it, people want change, and they are ready for change.”
These comments triggered strong reactions from both the public and senior government officials, including his successor, Kithure Kindiki, and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
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In separate statements, Kindiki and Murkomen condemned Gachagua’s remarks, emphasizing the government’s commitment to maintaining peace during the 2027 elections and vowing to prosecute anyone who threatens to disrupt it.
However, Gachagua, through the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), later clarified that his statements were misinterpreted, denying any intention to incite post-election violence.
“I never said there would be chaos in Kenya. What I said is that, according to the concerns being raised by Kenyans, there must be no attempts to rig the elections—so that we avoid a repeat of the tragic events of 2007/2008,” Gachagua stated during a church service in Murang’a on Sunday.
Despite this clarification, Gachagua’s residences in Karen and Nyeri were surrounded by authorities on Sunday night.
