NAIROBI -Tensions flared in Parliament on Monday as lawmakers demanded the arrest of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of stoking ethnic hatred and threatening national unity.
The outcry was sparked by a motion from Minority Whip Junet Mohamed, who condemned recent remarks by Gachagua as dangerously provocative. According to Mohamed, the former deputy’s words risked dragging the country back to the dark days of the 2007 post-election violence.
“It is shameful that a man who once held the second-highest office in the land now speaks in a way that threatens the very fabric of our nation,” Mohamed told the House. “The same man this House impeached is now out there calling for displacement, for division, and for confrontation.”
Gachagua, a key figure in the former administration, has come under fire for remarks that many MPs described as incendiary and ethnically charged. Although the comments have not been officially released in full, several lawmakers said they drew dangerous parallels to past violence.
“This is not just irresponsible it’s cruel,” said Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah. “To compare the horrors of 2007 to a Christmas party is not only insulting, it’s morally bankrupt.”
The 2007 violence left more than 1,000 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. It remains a scar on Kenya’s political history and a warning of what unchecked rhetoric can ignite.
Legal Push Gains Momentum
Calls for legal action quickly followed. Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo urged Parliament to explore constitutional avenues to bar Gachagua from holding public office.
“This is not just politics it’s about protecting our country,” Amollo said. “The NCIC, the police, and other bodies must take this seriously. We impeached him once. Now, we must ensure he does not threaten peace again.”
Amollo referenced the establishment of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in the wake of the 2007 crisis, underscoring its duty to act when national harmony is at risk.
But frustration with the commission was palpable. Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss Shollei accused the NCIC of turning a blind eye.
“Why hasn’t he been arrested?” she asked. “The NCIC is quick to act when it suits them. This selective justice must stop.”
‘Village Politics’ and Divided Opinion
MP Sylvanus Osoro of South Mugirango didn’t hold back, mocking what he called Gachagua’s “obsession with his village.”
“He needs to see a psychiatrist,” Osoro said bluntly. “This country is more than just one village. What he’s doing is not just petty it’s dangerous.”
Yet not all MPs were aligned. A few warned against overreach, citing the importance of protecting free speech.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo urged caution. “You may kill the messenger, but the message lives on,” he said. “Suppression only breeds more unrest. Let Kenyans hear what is said, even if they reject it.”
Oundo also criticised the House for what he called misplaced priorities. “We should be debating solutions to real problems, not inflating the ego of a political has-been.”
Nation at a Crossroads
Gachagua has yet to respond publicly to the storm surrounding his statements. His allies remain largely silent, as pressure mounts for him to be held to account.
With the scars of 2007 still fresh for many, the debate has struck a nerve across the political spectrum. It also highlights Kenya’s ongoing struggle to balance free expression with the need to preserve peace.
The Speaker is expected to rule in the coming days on whether Parliament can move forward with a constitutional petition against Gachagua. Meanwhile, civil society groups have called on law enforcement and the NCIC to investigate.
As MPs traded barbs and warnings, one message rang clear: the country cannot afford another descent into violence. And the words of its leaders past or present matter.
