Gachagua Blames State for Orchestrated Violence and Looting in June 25 Protests
Tension in Kenya remains high following the deadly June 25 protests. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has now directly accused the government of fueling the chaos.
Speaking on Thursday, June 26, Gachagua issued a hard-hitting statement condemning what he called “state-sponsored brutality” during the demonstrations.
“The government used live bullets on innocent, unarmed youth,” Gachagua said.
“This regime must be held responsible for the bloodshed witnessed on our streets.”
He went on to allege that the looting seen in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) was not random but highly targeted.
“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,” he claimed.
“This brutal exercise was led by politicians allied to this rogue regime.”
Gachagua, now the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), accused the government of using outdated tactics of intimidation, silencing, and violence to suppress dissent.
At the same time, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had issued his own fiery remarks, painting a very different picture.
“There was no peaceful demonstration,” Murkomen insisted.
“It was riots, chaos and anarchy. We condemn the criminal anarchists in the name of peaceful demonstrations, who unleashed a wave of violence, looting, sexual assault, and destruction upon our people.”
According to Murkomen, what unfolded was not civil protest but an attempt to destabilize the state. He claimed the demonstrators were armed criminals with plans to raid police stations.
“Hired criminals attacked police officers, stole police uniforms, and even gained access to armouries in Kiambu County,” he said.
Despite these serious allegations, Gachagua strongly rejected the narrative that demonstrators were at fault. He insisted the real blame lies with a government fearful of citizen voices.
“The people were exercising their right to protest,” Gachagua argued.
“But the state answered with bullets instead of dialogue.”
He revealed that he had cancelled all media engagements scheduled for Thursday in Embu County as a mark of respect to those who died during the protests.
“I stand in solidarity with families mourning their loved ones,” he said.
“These are the real heroes of our democracy.”
With these explosive statements, political tensions continue to rise, and the public is left to wonder who is truly responsible for the violence that shook the nation.
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Gachagua Blames State for Orchestrated Violence and Looting in June 25 Protests
