In a dramatic escalation of Kenya’s political turmoil, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have issued a stern ultimatum to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua: record a detailed police statement upon his return from the United States or face accountability for what they describe as reckless and unpatriotic claims linking President William Ruto to the notorious Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
This confrontation, unfolding against a backdrop of deep-seated rivalries and national security concerns, underscores the fragile state of Kenyan politics in the post-impeachment era, where allegations of terrorism ties are being weaponized in a high-stakes power struggle.
The controversy erupted during Gachagua’s high-profile US tour, which commenced on July 11, 2025, and has seen the embattled politician crisscrossing states to engage with diaspora communities, open offices for his newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), and rally international support against the Ruto administration.
Speaking at various forums, including a recent address in Baltimore, Maryland, Gachagua dropped bombshell accusations, claiming that President Ruto held clandestine nighttime meetings with three Al-Shabaab leaders in Mandera County to discuss undisclosed “business” dealings.
He further alleged that the Kenyan government has deliberately scrapped vetting processes for non-Kenyans seeking national identity cards, potentially enabling terrorists to obtain Kenyan citizenship and infiltrate global borders, including the United States.
These claims, Gachagua asserted, are part of a broader pattern of misconduct, including purported links to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and he vowed to provide evidence directly to US authorities, including the Senate, rather than Kenyan investigators.
Gachagua’s remarks have ignited a firestorm, positioning him as a whistleblower in the eyes of his supporters while branding him a traitor among government loyalists. “I am not talking ill of my country, just speaking the truth,” Gachagua defended during one of his US engagements, insisting his disclosures aim to protect Kenya and prompt international scrutiny.
He has even endorsed US Senator James Risch’s push to review Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, urging Kenyan-Americans to lobby for the National Defense Authorization Act that could strip Kenya of this designation amid concerns over human rights abuses, terrorism links, and governance issues.
“The Americans want to know why you’re working with Al-Shabaab,” Gachagua directly challenged Ruto, emphasizing global fears that unvetted IDs could facilitate terrorist movements worldwide.
Back home, the response has been swift and uncompromising. Addressing an economic empowerment event in Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, on August 9, 2025, Deputy President Kindiki lambasted Gachagua’s statements as a dangerous conflation of politics and national security.
“We want to ask the relevant agencies to make sure the people saying they have that information must be held accountable and must record a statement to help us protect Kenya from harm, bandits, terrorists, and criminals,” Kindiki declared, highlighting Kenya’s long history of suffering from Al-Shabaab attacks and cattle rustling.
He warned that such utterances abroad could endanger lives and undermine efforts to preempt threats, urging a clear distinction: “Matters of national security should not be used for political gain.”
Echoing this sentiment, Interior CS Murkomen delivered a scathing critique, accusing Gachagua of disparaging Kenya on the global stage for personal votes and tarnishing the nation’s image to scare away investors.
“As soon as he lands in Kenya, he must record a statement to tell us exactly which meetings he is having with terrorists. We have joked for far too long. It is unbelievable,” Murkomen stated, questioning how someone with such alleged irresponsibility ever ascended to the deputy presidency.
He emphasized the gravity of treating insecurity “as though it’s a joke,” particularly given Al-Shabaab’s devastating history in Kenya, including the 2013 Westgate Mall siege, the 2015 Garissa University attack, and ongoing incursions in the northeast.
This demand for accountability has garnered support from other quarters. Mandera Senator Ali Roba, for instance, has called for Gachagua’s immediate arrest, dismissing the allegations as baseless and inflammatory.
On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), reactions are polarized: some users hail Gachagua as a patriot exposing corruption, while others decry his actions as “reckless theatrics” and a “B-movie flop” driven by bitterness from his 2024 impeachment.
One post from a Kenyan analyst labeled it “unpatriotic and shameful,” arguing that top Al-Shabaab commanders remain elusive even to US intelligence.
To understand the depth of this rift, one must revisit Gachagua’s fall from grace. Impeached in October 2024 on charges including gross misconduct, inciting ethnic divisions, and undermining the government, Gachagua was replaced by Kindiki, the former Interior CS who oversaw brutal crackdowns on anti-austerity protests.
The impeachment stemmed from tensions during the Gen-Z-led demonstrations against tax hikes, where Gachagua attempted to deflect blame onto intelligence agencies.
Since then, he has reinvented himself as an opposition figurehead, launching the DCP to challenge Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 elections.
His US tour, ostensibly to connect with the diaspora and advocate for democratic reforms, has morphed into a platform for airing grievances, including claims of Ruto’s authoritarianism and security lapses.
The implications are profound. Nationally, these allegations risk exacerbating ethnic tensions—Gachagua hails from the Kikuyu community, while Ruto is Kalenjin—potentially fueling instability in a country already grappling with economic woes, youth unemployment, and recurrent terrorist threats.
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has exploited Kenya’s porous borders with Somalia, launching attacks that have claimed thousands of lives and disrupted trade.
If unsubstantiated, Gachagua’s claims could erode public trust in security institutions and invite unnecessary scrutiny from international partners.
Internationally, the fallout could strain Kenya-US relations at a critical juncture. Kenya’s MNNA status, granted in 2024, facilitates military cooperation against terrorism, including joint operations in Somalia.
Senator Risch’s amendment, backed by Gachagua, seeks to probe alleged human rights violations and terror links, potentially leading to sanctions or reduced aid. Experts warn this could isolate Kenya diplomatically, especially as the US intensifies its Africa strategy amid competition with China and Russia.
“There’s real panic in Nairobi as the US begins probing Kenya over rights abuses and terror links,” Gachagua noted, positioning himself as a conduit for accountability.
As Gachagua’s return looms—expected soon after his tour—Kenya braces for potential legal showdowns. Will he comply with the police summons, or escalate by sharing “evidence” exclusively with US entities?
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has yet to comment officially, but sources indicate preparations for questioning. Meanwhile, government officials like Murkomen insist on transparency: “We must distinguish matters of national security from everyday politics.”
This saga not only highlights the perils of politicizing terrorism but also raises urgent questions about governance, accountability, and the rule of law in Kenya.
As the nation watches, the outcome could reshape alliances, influence foreign policy, and determine the trajectory of Ruto’s presidency amid mounting opposition. For now, the call is clear: substantiate or face the consequences.
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