We have no links with Gachagua, Kibera youths summoned by DCI say

Youth leaders from Kibra who were summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kibra over leaflets linking them to the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have distanced themselves from alleged plans to cause chaos.

Early this week, residents of Kibra woke up to find leaflets linking some youths in the informal settlement to the now embattled Deputy President. The detectives who summoned Kibera Kamukunji Pressure Group Chairperson Daniel Owino, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) organising secretary for Kibra John Miller and others, wanted to know if the youths were planning chaos following Gachagua's impeachment.

"The detectives wanted to know the authors of the leaflets that were going around in Kibra linking us to impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Some people had accused us of planning to instigate chaos following the decision by lawmakers to impeach Gachagua," said Owino.

The youths who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice said they are worried that unknown persons could link them with plans to cause chaos.

"It is not right for us to be linked with plans to cause chaos because our main focus in Kibra and any other place has been to preach peaceful coexistence among communities," said Owino.

Miller said they have never been Gachagua’s supporters and would not wish to be associated in any way with his current woes.

"It is public knowledge that we are not supporters of Gachagua. We wonder what is the motive of people linking us with his problems," said Miller.

According to the youths who spoke at Sarang'ombe chief's office in Kibra, their alleged association with Gachagua has caused panic among their family members who fear that they could be a target of persons who are opposed to the impeached deputy president.

"You are aware that Kibra is a place where former prime minister Raila Odinga enjoys huge political support. Linking us to Gachagua is like endangering the lives of our families," he said.

According to Kibra Sub-County Commissioner Mohammed Abbas, the youths were called by the detectives to shed light on the leaflets that were found dumped in the informal settlement.

"They were invited to help detectives in finding out who could have been the authors of the leaflets linking them to the former deputy president," said Mohammed.

The youths have now called on the detectives to exhaustively investigate the matter and have the authors of the leaflets arrested and charged in court.

Following his removal from office by lawmakers and subsequent replacement with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, Gachagua has placed a spirited fight to remain in office.

On Thursday, his advocates mounted a defence seeking to have a three-judge bench of Justices Anthony Mrima, Eric Ogola and Fredah Mugambi recuse themselves from handling his impeachment case.

During the Thursday court session, Gachagua, represented by advocates Kibe Mungai and Ndegwa Njiru, raised concerns about the impartiality of the judges, particularly focusing on Justice Eric Ogola's spouse and the ties of Justice Anthony Mrima to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, a respondent in the case.

Njiru specifically pointed out that Justice Ogola's wife holds a position at the Kenya Water Towers Agency, an appointment made by the presidency, arguing that this connection should have been disclosed at the start of the proceedings.

Mungai highlighted the close relationship between Justice Murima and Speaker Kingi who is one of the respondents in the case.

"The honourable Judge Mrima and the fourth respondent, Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi are very close friends. The respondent attended the wedding ceremony of the judge and he took a photograph with him," said Mungai.