DCI Warns That Rigathi Gachagua Could Be Arrested

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin has hinted that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua could be arrested.

On Monday afternoon, June 30, Amin addressed the media with an update on investigations, five days after protests erupted into violence across parts of the country.

During the briefing, he was pressed on whether Gachagua could be prosecuted if linked to the unrest. Amin made it clear that nobody is above the law, and if the former Deputy President is found connected to the violence that broke out on Wednesday, he will be fully prosecuted.

"It is not true that we have summoned Rigathi Gachagua. He does not enjoy any immunity against prosecution. He is subject to the laws of the land.

DCI Boss Amin Mohamed speaking during a meeting with DCI officers in Nairobi on December 2, 2023. /DCI

"In our investigations, if he is found to be involved, perpetrated, aided or abetted in any criminal activities, then appropriate action will be taken against him," the DCI boss stated.

The DCI chief also disclosed key findings from the ongoing investigations, stating that the chaos seen in different regions, including Nairobi, was deliberately orchestrated rather than spontaneous.

"Our investigations have uncovered disturbing incidents. There has been destruction of critical government infrastructure. Several firearms and police equipment were stolen, and some of these weapons have already been used in violent robberies," Amin went on.

"These actions were not spontaneous; they were orchestrated, and we are actively pursuing the mobilisers and financiers of these acts, and they will be brought to justice soon."

On Thursday, June 26, Gachagua alleged that the move to block thousands of protesters from streaming into the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) was so that the looting witnessed in the city could be carried out uninterrupted.

In a strongly worded statement, he claimed that police had erected barriers along major roads such as Kiambu Road and Thika Road intentionally, adding that no businesses were looted in those areas.

"Mr. Ruto, you are well aware that under your instructions, Genuine Gen-Z protestors 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 GenZs.

"We have credible information that in Nairobi, especially the downtown region, businesses belonging to people from a certain region were clearly identified by officials from the County Government of Nairobi and elsewhere; this brutal exercise was led by politicians allied to this rogue regime," he said.

The former Deputy President's comments came just hours after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen labelled the June 25 protests as acts of terrorism masked as public dissent and accused the demonstrators' financiers of plotting to overthrow the government.