Kenya’s Ousted Deputy President Claims Assassination Threats
Gachagua accuses President Ruto of orchestrating efforts to harm him
- Gachagua claims his life is at risk
- Gachagua has faced corruption charges
- The appointment of Kindiki has been temporarily halted by the High Court
Kenya’s impeached deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, warned on Sunday that his life is in serious jeopardy, alleging that President William Ruto is behind efforts to endanger him.
Facing accusations of corruption, abuse of office, and inciting ethnic strife, Gachagua revealed to reporters that there have been assassination attempts against him. He expressed alarm over the abrupt withdrawal of his security detail, which has left him feeling vulnerable.
“I don’t feel safe… There have been two attempts to poison me,” he stated, referring to incidents in Kisumu and Nyeri where he claims undercover agents tried to compromise his food.
He also revealed that his protective security personnel were disarmed and instructed to stay away, exacerbating his fears for his safety and that of his family. “Don’t kill us. Don’t kill my children,” he implored, urging President Ruto to “leave me alone.”
As Gachagua prepares to challenge his impeachment in court, legal proceedings are set to determine if proper procedures were followed during the process.
Meanwhile, President Ruto’s nomination of Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president has faced a temporary halt from the High Court in Nairobi, which has issued an order in response to a petition arguing that the appointment violated constitutional provisions.
All actions regarding Kindiki’s transition to office are paused until the hearing scheduled for Thursday.
