Gachagua: Abductions a plot to silence critics

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua/FILE

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now claims that the recent wave of alleged abductions is a tactic the government is using to silence its critics.

In a statement on Friday, Gachagua said it is a message the state is sending to discourage young people from speaking against it, like Gen Z did when they rejected the Finance Bill, 2024.

The former DP, however, said that this strategy will not work.

“If you speak out against the government, you will be picked up by the now famous Subaru boys and disappeared. The purpose of this message is to intimidate the young men and women of our nation and discourage them from ever speaking out again the way they did when they expressed their disagreement with the Finance Bill, 2024.

“Unfortunately, the strategy of trying to scare Kenyans into silence, but that will not hold,” Gachagua said.

He went on to allege that the recent incidents show how disconnected the current administration is from the reality of where Kenya is today.

Gachagua said that before he was unceremoniously removed from office, he was strongly opposed to the use of force.

He added that he spoke about it and made his thoughts known to the Head of State in private and in public.

“Today, I want to speak directly to President William Ruto on this matter. I took every opportunity available to speak against those who felt that force is a strategy we can use to manage Kenyans. I made my position known privately many times, and I even spoke publicly.”

The former Deputy President further alleged that abductions are ongoing, and some top cops have reportedly admitted to the same.

“Close to 100 Kenyans have been abducted, and most are still to be found. Some security chiefs have confirmed that abductions are happening,” Gachagua said.

His remarks come a day after Inspector General Douglas Kanja refuted any allegations of police involvement in the ongoing abductions in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Kanja said that there is no police station in the country that is currently holding any of the persons reported to have been abducted.

“For avoidance of doubt, the National Police Service is not involved in any abduction, and there is no police station in the country that is holding the reported abductees,” he said.

The IG added that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) will probe the said abductions, as he called on members of the public with any useful information on the missing persons to report to the nearest police stations.

The Inspector General’s statement follows public outcry over rising abduction incidents, particularly of young Kenyans, these past few days.