Gachagua Fires Back: Alleges Plot to Isolate Him, Targets DCI's Charges as 'Political Witch Hunt'

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a fiery defense against what he describes as a coordinated attempt to politically isolate him, following the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' (DCI) push to charge several of his close allies. In a strongly-worded statement, Gachagua accused unnamed forces of manipulating the justice system to weaken his influence and pave the way for his impeachment, igniting a fresh political storm within the Kenyan government.

The Deputy President’s explosive comments come after the DCI recommended charges against five individuals, including two sitting Members of Parliament—Benjamin Gathiru Mwangi (Embakasi Central) and James Mwangi Gakuya (Embakasi North)—for their alleged involvement in funding and organizing anti-government protests in June. The MPs, alongside former MP George Theuri and Martin Deric Ngunjiri Wambugu, are facing accusations of conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering, and other serious offenses.

In a stinging Facebook post, Gachagua lambasted the ongoing investigations, calling it a "futile attempt" to tarnish his name and destabilize his office. “President William Ruto and I committed to never again allow the criminal justice system to be used in managing politics. I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were,” he wrote. He warned that Kenya’s political landscape had evolved, and citizens are no longer easily swayed by such tactics.

The DCI’s move to prosecute Gachagua’s allies has intensified the rift within the political elite, raising questions about internal power struggles in the Ruto administration. As the DCI works with financial institutions to investigate alleged illicit financial dealings, Gachagua's public outcry underscores growing tensions and the potential for deeper political instability.

Observers are closely watching whether this will escalate into a larger battle within Kenya’s political leadership or if it will remain a contained legal confrontation. Gachagua's claims of a looming impeachment plot, combined with the DCI’s pursuit of high-profile prosecutions, set the stage for a dramatic showdown between the country's political and legal institutions.