Gachagua Slams Kaguchia Arrest, Accuses State of Political Persecution
Kenyans have every right to protest the arrest of Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia over alleged inciteful remarks during a political rally.
Police harassment of politicians going about their business of campaigns is reprehensible and can lead to major crackdowns on Kenyans opposed to the government and that is a fight we have had in our country for generations.
But exactly what did the MP say in his rally that led to the whole drama?
MP Kaguchia was arrested over remarks he made during a public rally in Kieni, Nyeri County on Saturday.
During the rally, Kaguchia warned Mt Kenya residents of dire consequences if they vote for President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in his Kikuyu dialect, said that those who will vote for President Ruto will be tracked to their homes and smoked out.
Those are extremely frightening words where local people in opposition areas are being told if they vote for the other side they will be followed and “smoked” in their own homes.
Every Kenyan knows what it means to be smoked in your home means. It is a death threat and you will be killed is the message from this MP to those who do not support his king.
Is this kind of violent threats to kill people acceptable to the opposition in Kenya today? Gachagua always talks about people in Mt. Kenya region who support the government as “traitors” who have betrayed their communities even just for having a state job which every Kenyan is entitled to regardless of tribe or whoever is in government.
The entire opposition starting with their boss Gachagua are mad with the government because the MP is being denied his right to express his ideas for the country which he is entitled to by law.
In other words, according to these opposition leaders, Kenyans have a right to express ideas about their intention to kill other Kenyans who vote against their tribal king. Really? Is this the new human rights in Kenya under the opposition leaders where people just threaten others with death and it is normal politics.
In a statement issued on Monday, Gachagua described Kaguchia’s arrest as part of a broader pattern of selective law enforcement, arguing that the government was employing investigative agencies to settle political scores rather than uphold the rule of law.
“The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is synonymous with outgoing, cowardly regimes,” Gachagua said.
He claimed that selective application of the law would only deepen political divisions and fail to weaken the opposition, saying previous administrations had unsuccessfully employed similar tactics.
On Kaguchia’s arrest, Gachagua maintained that the move would only strengthen the opposition and elevate the Mukurwe-ini legislator’s standing among supporters.
“The overnight harassment and early morning arrest of Hon. John Kaguchia only strengthen the resolve of our supporters and elevate his standing within our leadership hierarchy,” he said.
Kalonzo condemns arrest of MP Kaguchia over incitement remarks, terms it selective
“We do not support incitement, from anyone. Every leader has a duty to protect peace and to respect the rule of law. The Constitution guarantees every Kenyan freedom of expression. The law must be applied fairly, not selectively,” he said.
He argued that many leaders allied to President William Ruto’s regime have made inciteful remarks in public yet no appropriate action has been taken, yet Kaguchia was apprehended in haste.
“Mr. Ruto’s regime said “shoot and kill” against our own children. No action followed. The UDA Secretary General and a sitting Cabinet Secretary hurled tribal insults, one going so far as to call an entire community “hyenas.” Again, no action. Why the double standard?” he posed.
“Justice in Kenya cannot depend on whether you are pro-government or in the opposition. If incitement is the standard, apply it to everyone; Mukurweini MP or Cabinet Secretary, it does not matter. Selective justice is not justice. It has no place in our democracy.”
Kaguchia maintained he will not relent and that he should be apprehended lawfully under clear circumstances.
Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament John Kaguchia is clear there that he will not stop spreading the threats he issued and the problem is that with all this new tribal kings spreading threats within their own communities at some point people are going to tell them they have a right to live in their homes and support and vote for whoever they choose and will not put up with threats on their lives. Then what?
Can the opposition leaders have the guts to talk to their MP and tell him dude you cannot give death threats to people who do not vote for your boss. Just do your campaign.
If that is too much to ask from the opposition leaders today they are doomed and that could be a good thing for the country.
