A broad coalition of politicians allied to the government has launched a blistering offensive, publicly calling for the arrest of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his alleged links to the widespread chaos witnessed during the "Gen Z memorial" demonstrations. This demand signals a dangerous escalation in the country's political rivalries, transforming the aftermath of public unrest into a high-stakes blame game.
Leading the charge against the former Deputy President were prominent figures from the ruling coalition, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruyot, and President Ruto’s influential aide, Farouk Kibet. Speaking with a unified voice, these leaders vehemently condemned the violence, branding it "planned terrorism" orchestrated by the opposition. Speaker Wetangula did not shy away from challenging other societal pillars, questioning the silence of religious leaders in the face of what he termed "mayhem." He drew parallels with international responses to similar unrest, stating, "Anybody can picket or demonstrate or present a petition to any office. Now that what happened on Wednesday, I wanted to hear the bishops on whether they saw the mayhem that occurred and whether it was the right thing."
The government-aligned politicians urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the judiciary to take swift action, directly blaming the opposition for the anarchy, extensive destruction of property, and tragic loss of lives that marred the protests. Senator Aaron Cheruiyot reinforced this demand for rapid justice by citing global examples. "Last year, there were demonstrations in Liverpool. Within 3 weeks, all those who destroyed property were jailed. 2 weeks ago, there were protests in Los Angeles, as we speak today, all those who destroyed public property are in jail," Cheruiyot emphasized, implicitly calling for similar swift and decisive legal action against those involved in the Kenyan unrest. These calls for Gachagua's arrest come amidst broader accusations from Kenya Kwanza leaders that he has been actively inciting violence by urging the youth to take to the streets.
However, the former Deputy President has swiftly and fiercely countered these allegations, turning the blame squarely back on the government. On his part, Rigathi Gachagua condemned what he termed as the use of "excessive force and live bullets" by the police against "peaceful and unarmed Gen-Z protesters." In a statement issued on June 26, 2025, Gachagua accused his former boss, President William Ruto, of transforming the country into a "police state." His strong condemnation highlights the deeply polarized narratives surrounding the protests: one side decries organized anarchy, while the other laments state-sanctioned brutality.
