Gachagua Speaks After Limuru Burial Attack: Govt Withdrew Security To Expose Me
The DP, in a lengthy statement, revealed that the goons had approached him while heading to his car and subsequently stoned it and hit it with iron bars.
Marvin Chege 
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is now claiming that the government's withdrawal of his security was intent on leaving him vulnerable to an attack against him during a funeral in Limuru on Thursday, November 28.
The DP, in a lengthy statement, revealed that the goons had approached him while heading to his car and subsequently stoned it and hit it with iron bars.
Below is the full statement:
As Kenyans are well aware earlier this week the government withdrew the final aspects of my security that were in place after the impeachment process we are contesting.
However, we did not raise an issue with this decision by the government although expectations were that any Kenyan who has served at the level of government that I was privileged to serve at, would be secured by the government even after leaving office.
Damage on former DP Rigathi Gachagua’s car after it was attacked by goons at a burial in Limuru. /RIGATHI GACHAGUA
However, it now looks like the decision to withdraw my security was to leave me exposed to the kind of attack we have witnessed today.
Today I was at a funeral service in Limuru for a young man called Erastus Nduati. While we were preparing to lay the young man to rest, goons attacked us and the other mourners who were present, including children. The gangsters were armed with stones, machetes, iron bars and sticks.
They descended randomly on mourners present and attacked them using the weapons they had, as well as the plastic seats available. A specific group followed me as I went to my car, which they proceeded to attack with stones and iron bars. We literally drove out of the venue under a hail of rocks!
This is a very sad state of affairs and a major low for the state, who were clearly complicit in these actions. We just especially remember the family that had a loved one in a casket, who had to run to safety despite their profound grief.
We will not be scared away from standing with Kenyans who need us to support them in their moments of need. We just expect such a terrible moment of shame will not be repeated.
The ceremony had earlier continued as usual as former Limuru Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Mwathi was giving his remarks. However, his mic went off, which was followed by a vigorous shaking of the tent where the former DP was seated alongside Gachagua's close political allies including Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa.
Gachagua and other politicians were captured seated at one of the tents that had been designated for senior congregants. However, just before the former DP could be invited to address the crowd, a group of locals began rattling the tent, a moment that prompted those inside to rush out in fear for their lives.
The congregants were recorded scampering for safety as a group of rivalling pacts engaged in heated wrangles that led to the destruction of furniture including chairs. According to reports, several people also sustained critical injuries.
After the attack, Gachagua's close ally and Kiambu senator Karung'o Thangwa came out and assured the public of the former DP's safety, though downplayed some fears that the former DP might have suffered injuries following the incident.
''It was an assassination attempt. But the people's Deputy President is safe. Thank you so much people of Limuru for ensuring our safety. We will not be intimidated or silenced—now we know!'' Thang'wa revealed in a statement released hours after the attack.
This comes after concerns surfaced regarding Gachagua's safety. On November 20, he claimed that he was being stalked by security agents in unmarked vehicles who had pitched camp outside his Nairobi residence.
"Security agents in unmarked cars have been following me wherever I go. They are parking at the entrance of my Nairobi residence, taking note of all my visitors, and they trail me whenever I leave the house, even all the way to my rural home in Nyeri," he announced on his social media pages.
Addressing the press outside Karen Hospital on Sunday, October 20, Gachagua told Kenyans that he didn't feel safe. This is after he revealed that his security was withdrawn while he was admitted to hospital.
