Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has revealed that retired officers from various security agencies have volunteered to guard his homes and provide private security, following what he describes as targeted attacks and a withdrawal of his official security detail. Gachagua made these remarks on Inooro TV’s Kiririmbi show on Sunday, December 15, 2024, as he shed light on his precarious situation since being impeached from office earlier this year.
Gachagua alleged that the withdrawal of his official security team occurred shortly after the consecration of Bishop Peter Kimani Ndung’u in Embu County on November 16, 2024. Since then, the ex-Deputy President claimed that only six officers had been assigned to him four stationed at his residence and two tasked with his personal security. He lamented the insufficiency of this arrangement, adding that the recent threats to his life have necessitated alternative measures.
Volunteer Security from Retired Officers
According to Gachagua, retired officers, including those who served in the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Kenya Forest Service (KFS), have stepped in to fill the security gap. He expressed gratitude to these individuals, describing them as “volunteers” who were moved by his plight.
“I’m being guarded by volunteers who are retired officers. Some were in KWS, others in KFS. When they saw what happened to me in Limuru, about 300 people from different places came looking for me and offered to guard my homes,” Gachagua said.
The former DP also invoked divine intervention, asserting that “God is watching over us. He is the head of all security forces.”
Alleged Assassination Attempt in Limuru
Gachagua recounted an alleged assassination attempt during a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County, on November 28, 2024. Armed individuals reportedly disrupted the event, attacking attendees and targeting his convoy. The attackers allegedly pelted his car with stones and vandalized it.
The ex-DP claimed he narrowly escaped the attack thanks to four young men who shielded him with their bodies during the chaos.
“In Limuru, I had no security; it is God who protected me because the plan was to assassinate me,” he claimed. “Young men came in and removed tent poles while looking for me. They were Kikuyus, and I heard them saying gutha mutwe (hit the head). They came to my car and hit it from all sides, but four young men came and lay on top of me. One of them suffered injuries and is currently hospitalized.”
Gachagua described the incident as politically motivated, linking it to his vocal criticism of President William Ruto’s administration since his impeachment.
Rising Tensions and Political Plans
The former Deputy President believes the attacks are part of a broader political scheme to silence him. He has been an outspoken critic of the current government, regularly making fiery public statements that have drawn both support and condemnation.
Gachagua, however, remains defiant, declaring that he will not be intimidated. “I know these are political schemes because of the engagements I have made and the truths I have spoken,” he said.
He hinted at a major political announcement in 2025, signaling a possible return to the national political stage. “I am consulting widely, and I will reveal my next move early next year,” Gachagua said.
A Nation Divided
The security concerns surrounding Gachagua highlight the escalating tensions in Kenya’s political landscape. His claims of assassination attempts and the alleged withdrawal of official protection underscore the fraught relationship between the former DP and the government.
While the government is yet to respond to these allegations, Gachagua’s remarks have sparked discussions about the treatment of former leaders and the politicization of security in Kenya. As the country prepares for the next election cycle, his revelations could serve to galvanize his supporters while intensifying divisions within the political arena.
For now, Gachagua’s fate hangs in the balance, with his next steps closely watched by both allies and opponents. Whether his announcement in 2025 will mark a new chapter in his political career remains to be seen, but the former DP’s resilience and determination suggest that he is not ready to fade into obscurity.
