Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have called on Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua to record a statement with the police over controversial remarks he made on terrorism during his ongoing United States tour.
Speaking in Keiyo South, Elgeyo Marakwet, on Saturday, Murkomen accused Gachagua of endangering national security by alleging that President William Ruto had met secretly with members of the Somali-based militant group Al-Shabaab.
Gachagua’s Explosive Claims
While addressing a gathering in the US, the former Deputy President claimed that President Ruto held a night meeting with three Al-Shabaab leaders to discuss “business.” He further alleged that the government’s decision to scrap the vetting requirement for non-Kenyans applying for Kenyan national identity cards could allow suspected terrorists to infiltrate the country and, by extension, pose a threat to other nations.
“William Ruto, Americans want to know why you’re working with Al-Shabaab; why, when you’re in Mandera, you met three leaders of the Al-Shabaab militia at night to discuss business with them,” Gachagua stated.
“They want to know why you have removed the requirement for vetting of non-Kenyans before they’re given IDs… suspected terrorists will be registered as Kenyans and will find their way to America and the rest of the world and create terror in the world.”
He said he was in the US to “put the Kenyan case” before the American government, Congress, and Senate, while also opening DCP diaspora offices and drumming up support for his political movement.
Murkomen: National Security is Not a Campaign Tool
CS Murkomen strongly criticised Gachagua’s remarks, reminding him that during his tenure as Interior CS, he treated matters of security with the utmost seriousness.
“I saw another man… disparaging the country, talking about issues of insecurity as though it’s a joke. He thinks he’s going to parade issues of terrorism in America to get votes,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen insisted that Gachagua must record a statement upon returning to the country, particularly if he truly has intelligence on terror meetings.
“As soon as he lands in the country, he must record a statement to tell us which meetings he’s doing with terrorists,” he said, adding, “This country, we’ve joked for too long… Can such a person become the president?”
Kindiki: Provide the Information or Be Held Accountable
Deputy President Kindiki echoed Murkomen’s call, stressing that anyone claiming to have actionable intelligence on terrorism must share it with the authorities immediately.
“We want to ask the relevant agencies to make sure the people saying they have that information must be held accountable and must record a statement to help us protect Kenya from harm, bandits, terrorists and criminals,” Kindiki said.
He reminded leaders to distinguish between political rhetoric and the gravity of national security threats.
“Hatuwezi kufanya jambo la ugaidi iwe jambo la mzaha na mambo ya siasa. We must distinguish matters of national security from everyday politics,” Kindiki warned.
Tour Timeline
Gachagua began his US tour on July 11, 2025, making stops in multiple states to engage with international stakeholders, rally diaspora support, and set up DCP offices abroad. His remarks have sparked a fresh political storm at home, with government leaders warning against the politicisation of terrorism.
