Nairobi— Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed accusations that he is inciting violence ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election, saying he was only warning against election rigging not calling for political unrest.
Speaking at a church service in Gatanga on Sunday, Gachagua the (DCP) party leader sought to explain comments he made earlier in the week that drew fierce criticism from senior government officials.
“They say I want violence,” he said, addressing the congregation. “I simply told the new IEBC team not to play with the people’s will. Kenyans are tired. If you try to steal the vote, it won’t be taken lightly.”
“2007 Would Look Like a Christmas Party”
The uproar stems from remarks Gachagua made in a recent podcast interview, where he suggested that tampering with the 2027 vote would lead to widespread chaos.
“If the IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there would be no country here,” he warned, adding, “2007 would look like a Christmas party.”
Those comments, widely interpreted as inflammatory, drew immediate condemnation from high-ranking officials. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki both slammed Gachagua’s tone, calling it reckless and dangerous.
“I’ve Always Preached Peace”
But Gachagua insists he has always chosen calm over conflict.
“I am the most peaceful man in Kenya,” he said on Sunday. “Even when I was impeached, my supporters wanted to take to the streets. I told them no compose a song instead.”
He suggested that had it been opposition leader Raila Odinga or President William Ruto in his place, the situation might have played out differently.
Accusations of Political Sabotage
The former Deputy President also pointed a finger at President Ruto, whom he accused of engineering the recent disruption of his party’s launch.
“This wasn’t just random chaos,” Gachagua claimed. “This was orchestrated.”
He listed several other events where, he alleges, hired goons and police were used to frustrate his gatherings. These include a funeral in Limuru, a church event in Nyeri, and a prayer meeting in Nyandarua, where he says tear gas was used on the crowd.
He further claimed that in January last year, his children were forcibly evicted from a business premises they had rented for five years with police present.
Mounting Tensions in Mount Kenya
Gachagua’s claims reflect rising political tensions, especially within the Mount Kenya region, where rival camps aligned with Ruto and Gachagua have increasingly clashed.
Analysts say his comments may be part of a broader campaign to rally support for his new party, Democratic Change Party (DCP), launched earlier this year.
Despite the backlash, Gachagua remains defiant.
“I will continue to speak truth to power,” he said. “Kenya must remain a democracy, and no one should fear saying so in church, on air, or in Parliament.”
As the country heads into another politically charged season, Gachagua’s words and the reactions they provoke are likely to stay in the spotlight.
