Gachagua must share evidence on terror links with investigators, says Kindiki, Murkomen

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen have said former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua must record a statement with investigative agencies upon his return from the United States of America.

Kindiki said his predecessor, who is on a tour of the US, must tell Kenyan authorities what he knows about terrorism networks in Kenya.

Two days ago, Gachagua alleged that the President William Ruto-led administration had links with terrorist groups, among them Somalia-based al Shabaab, and further alleged that he would share evidence with US authorities.

But yesterday, Prof Kindiki told Gachagua, who is still on his US tour, to prepare to give authorities evidence of his allegations while in a foreign country.

“I hear there is a leader who spoke outside Kenya and claimed that he has information that will help us to thwart any attack by al Shabaab because they have information on who and where guns to terrorize Kenyans are being made,” Prof Kindiki said during an empowerment fundraiser in Sitotwo, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

He described Gachagua as a reckless traitor and should be held to account over what he termed as reckless talks on sensitive matters.

The DP asked the country’s security organs to ensure that Gachagua and anyone who has information on the terrorism link claim to face the security apparatus with tangible evidence.

“We therefore want to ask the relevant agencies to make sure that people who have information on terrorists and criminals must be held accountable and must record their statements so that they can help us investigate and to establish the issue and make sure we protect Kenya from the harm of criminals and bandits,” said Prof Kindiki.

He said leaders touring foreign countries should respect Kenya’s national security.

Kindiki said the opposition, including his predecessor, Gachagua, was free to criticize President William Ruto’s administration but not to discuss the country’s internal security in foreign nations.

“They can insult the President and his deputy so long as they don’t endanger the country’s national security. Kenya has been hit hard by terrorism and banditry for many years, and we must distinguish between politics and national security,” said Prof Kindiki.

Murkomen said Gachagua must record the statement with investigators immediately after he lands in the country.

“I saw another man who sat where you are sitting the other day disparaging our country, talking about issues of insecurity as though it was a joke,” Murkomen said.

He went on to state: “We want to say without fear of contradiction, because he has said he has information and he knows and he has agents sitting in meetings with Al Shabaab, as soon as he lands in Kenya, he must tell us exactly which meetings he is doing with terrorists.”

The Interior CS said Gachagua thought he would use the terrorism link subject to gain popularity.

“He thinks that he is going to parade issues of terrorism in America for him to get votes,” said Murkomen.

He said he was still wondering how a politician of the calibre of Gachagua rose to the position of DP.

Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ngelechei, who was among the leaders who had accompanied Prof Kindiki and Murkomen for the empowerment event, said Gachagua must tell the country the evidence he has on terrorism links instead of sharing with foreigners.