Gachagua declines to provide details on alleged Ruto-Al-Shabaab meetings, insists matter is under US investigation

Gachagua declines to provide details on alleged Ruto-Al-Shabaab meetings, insists matter is under US investigation

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declined to provide details on alleged meetings between President William Ruto and Al-Shabaab leaders, citing ongoing investigations in the United States.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with Citizen TV, Gachagua said he would not provide information to anybody not directly investigating the matter, emphasising the ongoing nature of the inquiry abroad.

“We will not prejudice investigations by giving details of what we know. I have a lot of information that is available to those investigating the matter. It is a matter in the US Senate, not Kenya; hence, I will not volunteer information to a body that is not investigating the matter,” he said.

Gachagua recently alleged that President Ruto met with three Al-Shabaab militia leaders at night in Mandera to discuss “business,” raising serious national security concerns.

He also accused the government of removing the vetting requirement for non-Kenyans before issuing identity cards, a move he claimed could allow suspected terrorists to obtain Kenyan IDs and infiltrate other countries, including the United States.

“We are also here to put the Kenyan case to the American government, Congress and Senate. 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 said.

Asked if he was making the allegation himself, Gachagua clarified that he was merely seeking a response from President Ruto, noting that the claims originated from the US Senate.

“I didn’t make the allegation. I was simply asking him to answer. Senator James Risch, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the American Senate, tabled a Bill asking that the status of Kenya as a NATO ally be reviewed in view of allegations regarding relations with China, Iran, key officials’ ties with non-state armed groups including Al-Shabaab and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, and extrajudicial killings and abductions. I’m not the one who came up with these allegations,” he said.

He added that the allegations target Kenya and its officials, not President Ruto personally.

“Senator Risch and the Congress do not talk about William Ruto. They are talking about Kenya and its officials. Those officials, according to me, include President William Ruto, who leads Kenya. I have said on record that President William Ruto has a working relationship with Hemeti, the leader of RSF. I have evidence, as I was present in the meeting,” he said.

Gachagua explained that he facilitated an official meeting between President Ruto and Hemeti on the Sudanese deputy president’s request.

“William Ruto called me as deputy president and had a letter for me to sign to invite Hemeti. I went to pick him up at the airport, delivered him to William Ruto, and sat in on the discussion. This was an official meeting,” he said, adding that the discussion focused on business matters, including trade in gold.

He indicated that the claims were unsubstantiated and emphasised that he had provided all relevant information to the ongoing US investigation.

The Americans are investigating, and I have shared all information available to those conducting the inquiry. If they require my input, especially regarding Sudan, I am available. President William Ruto has a mouth; he can deny or confirm these allegations, just as he did regarding China,” he said.

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He explained that the matter is under investigation by the US Senate and not by Kenyan authorities, since local agencies are unable to investigate President Ruto due to his position.

“The matter is under investigation by the American Senate. The Kenyan authorities are not investigating because they cannot investigate William Ruto, as he holds authority. It is dead in Kenya, but I believe it will see the light of day in the American Senate,” he said.

He emphasised that he is not evading accountability but is bound by the status of ongoing investigations abroad.

“If the DCI were investigating, I would provide all I know. But they are not, so I will not volunteer information to a body that is not conducting inquiries,” Gachagua said.