Gachagua Is Behind Abductions: MP Mwengi Mutuse

The lawmaker challenged Gachagua to clarify his role in the allegations

Gachagua Is Behind Abductions: MP Mwengi Mutuse
Collage of MP Mwengi Mutuse and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. /MWENGI MUTUSE.RIGATHI GACHAGUA

Kibwezi West Member of Parliament (MP) Mwengi Mutuse, who successfully moved a motion in Parliament to impeach Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President, has now claimed that Gachagua is involved in the recent abductions in the country.

Mutuse in a statement on Monday, December 30 claimed to have received credible information that Gachagua was collaborating with unknown individuals within President William Ruto's government and former officials to carry out activities meant to destabilise the country.

"I have received credible information regarding Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, suggesting that he, through some of his close political associates, may be collaborating with sympathetic individuals within the government and former officials to orchestrate activities designed to incite public unrest and create dissent against the current administration. Alarmingly, these activities reportedly include involvement in recent abductions," he alleged in part.

MP Mwengi Mutuse during the JLAC vetting of Abdi Mohammed, the nominee for CEO and Secretary of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. /MWENGI MUTUSE

The lawmaker challenged Gachagua to clarify his role in the allegations. "If he is indeed complicit, the police must act decisively to ensure that he and his associates face justice. No one is above the law," he added.

Mutuse further noted that it was both morally wrong and utterly irresponsible for any leader to exploit the lives of innocent citizens to further political agendas.

Gachagua has yet to respond to Mutuse's allegations. On December 27, Gachagua weighed in on the outrage surrounding the abductions in this month of December alone, which have sparked nationwide protests.

While speaking in a press conference at his Mathira home in Nyeri County on Friday, December 27, Gachagua demanded that National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji resign over the abductions, a resignation call that he extended to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin, referring to their statements distancing their respective agencies from the abductions.

Gachagua urged President Ruto to take full responsibility and immediately address the alleged abductions, claiming that "To remain silent or inactive is to suggest that these actions are being carried out with his knowledge and consent."

President Ruto on his part, in his first remarks since the abductions hit nationwide headlines, affirmed that he would end the wave of abductions by any means necessary.

The protests on December 30 in an attempt to push the government to release Kenyans who mysteriously went missing during the month. Many believe more than five people have been abducted including Steve Mbisi from Machakos, Billy Mwangi (Embu), Peter Muteti (Nairobi), Bernard Kavuli (Nairobi), Gideon Kibet alias Kibet Bull (Nairobi) and Rony Kiplang'at (Kiambu).

The protesters argued that the demonstrations were aimed at pressuring the government to release those believed to have been abducted, end the arbitrary arrests, and address the demands made by Generation Z in June.

The recent surge in abductions, over 10 in December alone and more than 80 throughout the year, has sparked outrage across Kenya. Despite government denials, human rights groups, victims, and youth activists called on Kenyans to join Monday’s nationwide protests to demand the release of those abducted by security agents and an end to the ongoing arrests.

The protests were not without arrests made, more prominently on Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who had joined the protesters in the demonstrations against the wave of abductions.

He was taken first to Central Police Station in Nairobi CBD before being reportedly transferred to Gigiri from Central Police Station.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah alongside other protesters demonstrating along Aga Khan Walk in Nairobi’s city centre. /CITIZEN DIGITAL