Uasin Gishu —Political allies of President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have condemned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his silence and absence during the Saba Saba protests that turned violent on July 7.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula led the public criticism, accusing Gachagua of escaping accountability by traveling to the United States at the height of the unrest. The protests left a confirmed number of people dead and caused widespread destruction of public and private property in major towns.
Speaking during a Women Empowerment event in Uasin Gishu, Wetang’ula questioned Gachagua’s intentions and challenged young people to consider who truly stands with them.
“Young people, the leaders who pushed you to the streets did you see them there? Did you see their children there?” Wetang’ula asked. “Their children are studying abroad, yet they urge you to risk your lives at home.”
He reminded the audience that the original Saba Saba protests in the 1990s were rooted in the struggle for multiparty democracy, not chaos or destruction.
“You won’t become President by circling around a single region. You must speak to all of Kenya,” Wetang’ula added, in a direct jab at Gachagua’s Mt Kenya-focused rhetoric.
East African Community Affairs Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu, who hails from Nyeri County, also distanced the region from Gachagua. She declared that the central region had moved on and aligned itself with President Ruto and Raila Odinga.
“He was given a national role and abandoned it. Now he wants to distract the President from working. We must ask who does he still represent?” Karugu said.
Elgeyo Marakwet MP Caroline Ng’elechei dismissed Gachagua’s political ambition as impatient and self-serving. “After one term in Parliament, you were made Deputy President. Then you turned against the same government that trusted you. Don’t blame others for the consequences,” she said.
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri urged Kikuyus living outside the Mt Kenya region to remain calm and reject calls for unrest.
“Our greatest asset is peace. When I hear Gachagua speak about violence, I worry,” Kiunjuri said. “He must understand ‘Moto huzaa jivu.’ Fire leaves nothing but ashes.”
Farouk Kibet, a close aide to President Ruto, added that no protests would be allowed in Eldoret or Uasin Gishu County. “Let me be clear. Eldoret is peaceful, and we won’t allow anyone to drag it into unnecessary chaos,” he warned.
The remarks come days after the deadly Saba Saba protests rocked parts of the country, with pressure mounting on leaders accused of inciting unrest but failing to take responsibility for the consequences.
As investigations into the protests continue, political tensions remain high, especially in regions where the demonstrations turned violent. President Ruto’s allies have called for restraint and national unity, warning that political ambition must not override peace and stability.
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