Gachagua accuses Ruto's government of sabotaging Gen Z protests, demands justice for victims
Gachagua accused the government of breaking promises made to the youth, saying their growing frustration stems from unfulfilled pledges dating back to the 2022 campaigns.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused police of shielding looters while blocking peaceful Gen Z protesters from accessing Nairobi’s CBD during Wednesday’s protest anniversary.
In a statement on Thursday, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader condemned the use of excessive force and live bullets by police officers against peaceful protesters across the country, accusing President William Ruto’s administration of orchestrating violence to sabotage the youth-led movement.
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“In the strongest terms possible, I condemn the use of excessive force and live bullets by the police on peaceful and unharmed Gen Z protesters witnessed yesterday across the country,” Gachagua said.
He accused the government of reneging on its promises to the youth, noting that frustrations among young people stem from unmet pledges made during the 2022 campaigns.
“Mr Ruto, you know you promised our young people jobs and economic liberation. You know what you have delivered to them and their parents,” he said.
The DCP leader further alleged that the government has shifted tactics in its crackdown on protests.
Goons
Referring to the June 19 demonstration following the murder of Albert Ojwang in police custody, Gachagua claimed that “goons” were deployed to beat demonstrators.
He added that during the June 25 anniversary demonstrations, hired gangs were instead instructed to loot and destroy property.
“You are well aware that under your instructions, genuine Gen Z protesters were blocked in their thousands on Kiambu Road and Thika Road, where no businesses were looted. Your police allowed goons into town at their expense to go and cause mayhem and place the blame on the Gen Zs,” he said.
Gachagua claimed the attacks on businesses were ethnically targeted and politically driven.
“We have credible information that in Nairobi, especially downtown, businesses belonging to people from a certain region were clearly identified by officials from the county government of Nairobi. This brutal exercise was led by politicians allied to this rogue regime,” he said.
Targeted looting
“In cahoots with the police, these rogue officials and politicians led goons for a targeted looting spree to intimidate and coerce them to support this unpopular regime. We are well aware that most of the businesses were left intact last evening only to be found looted in the morning.”
Gachagua also faulted the Communications Authority of Kenya for cutting live TV signals, claiming this was part of a government strategy to enable looting and “destroy property under police protection”.
He dismissed the visit by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to affected businesses as “pretentious” and condemned the CS for allegedly profiling the Kikuyu community.
“We have listened to a misinformed statement from the CS Interior, Mr Murkomen, profiling the Kikuyu community, that this protest was a Kikuyu uprising. Yet the CS is well aware that the Gen Zs were against corruption, extrajudicial killings, abductions and anarchy,” he said.
“This community you are profiling voted for you to a man and gave life to this regime.”
Government-aligned propagandists
Gachagua also lashed out at government-aligned propagandists for attempting to blame patriotic politicians for the unrest.
“Please, give us a break,” he said.
He urged Kenyans to remain steadfast in resisting what he described as an increasingly repressive regime.
“Kenyans stood strong against Moi’s brutality for 24 years and lived on. The two years of your regime will be over, and they will stand strong again. I urge resilience among the people and a strong spirit to correct the wrongs we made in 2022,” he said.
He dismissed claims that the Gen Z movement is funded by political figures, stating the protests are independent and organic.
“You must understand that these young people are the future of this country. They have more tomorrows ahead of them than either you or I. If you truly listen, you’ll hear them telling you that the person setting this country ablaze is you, Mr Ruto,” he said.
Gachagua expressed solidarity with victims of police brutality and affected business owners, announcing the cancellation of a planned media briefing in Embu and the postponement of his public engagements in the region.
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