Gachagua skips two events in Nakuru after Limuru attack

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. [Standard, File]

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has skipped two public events he was to grace in Nakuru on Saturday and Sunday last week following the ugly scenes in Limuru, Kiambu County where he and his close allies were attacked.

 On Saturday, Gachagua was set to attend the burial of his longtime friend the late James Mwaura who served as a District Commissioner in different parts of the country. He was buried at his home in Pipeline, Nakuru East.

 Gachagua was also set to attend a church service in Molo town where he was to be hosted at PCEA Molo church on Sunday.

 The Sunday Standard has established that Gachagua cancelled attendance of the two events late Friday and instead sent representatives with his message among them former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri.

 “I can confirm that Gachagua will not be coming to Nakuru this weekend as planned. We discussed the matter on Friday and resolved that he should not attend the funeral and church service,” said Ngunjiri.

 Gachagua, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa was on Thursday attacked by goons allegedly hired and ferried in buses to deny him a chance to address the mourners amid his rising popularity in the Mt Kenya region.

 According to Ngunjiri, the decision to cancel the Nakuru itinerary was a difficult one but was arrived at after consideration on the consequences it would have on him, mourners, and church attendees.

 “We got information that one of the Nakuru MPs had also planned a similar attack on Gachagua if he attended the Mwaura’s funeral. We talked with the family and agreed that I would deliver his message to them,” said Ngunjiri.

 Ngunjiri added that they canceled the Molo event over the same reasons.

 “Some MPs and key leaders here in Nakuru are on record using goons to have their way on private and public matters. We wouldn’t want to see a repeat of what we saw in Limuru here in Nakuru,” he said.

 The former legislator noted that if Gachagua were to attend the events, the implication would have serious consequences in the county and beyond.

 “Nakuru is a cosmopolitan area and any form of disturbance is likely to have a spillover effect. We are for peace. However this should not be misconstrued as cowardice,” he said.

 Ngunjiri challenged President William Ruto to put his house in order saying that persons close to him were using his wrath to plot further harm on Gachagua.

 “The attack on Gachagua was a direct attempt on his life. President Ruto should know that if anything happens to Gachagua today, the blame will be on him. What benefit do they draw from frustrating Gachagua as a private citizen?” Ngunjiri posed.

 He added that the President was duty-bound to ensure there is peace in the country and the lives of all Kenyans are protected.

 “The withdrawal of Gachagua’s security is meant to make him vulnerable to attacks. Regrettably, it is the victims of the attack who are being questioned instead of the perpetrators who the government has the capacity to know and get hold of,” he said.

 Ngunjiri cited recent remarks by a Lamu-based activist that members of a certain community should not vie for positions in the coastal county terming them as foreigners.

 “I am worried as a citizen that the remarks were made more than a week ago now yet no action has been taken. Is the President turning a blind eye to this serious remark? Where is the NCIC and Parliament’s cohesion committee?” said Ngunjiri.