Two allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were on Thursday questioned for several hours by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over their alleged involvement in the violent protests that occurred on June 25.
Former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund, Geoffrey Mwangi, and Ms Assumpta Wangui, an official of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), appeared before DCI officers at the Rift Valley regional headquarters in Nakuru City, where they recorded statements regarding the protests.
In Nyeri, Karatina MCA Watson Weru and several other key allies, Mr Gachagua, recorded statements with DCI on Wednesday in connection with last week's Gen Z demonstrations, as the government intensifies its crackdown on alleged perpetrators of the protests.
Mr Mwangi, who has declared his intention to challenge Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika in the 2027 elections on a DCP ticket, was interrogated first, followed by Ms Wangui.
Their summons came just days after Mr Gachagua vehemently denied allegations that he had discreetly funded the protests, which resulted in the deaths of 19 people and left dozens injured.
In a recent interview with NTV, Mr Gachagua dismissed claims linking him to the unrest. However, in what appears to be a systematic crackdown on his allies, the two now join a growing list of government critics who have been arrested or interrogated by detectives in the wake of the demonstrations.
The DCI believes the two suspects sponsored and funded the protests in Nakuru.
Mr Mwangi presented himself at the DCI offices on Thursday morning, accompanied by his lawyer, Stanley Karanja. He was questioned for approximately three hours.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Mr Mwangi confirmed he had honoured a summons issued on Monday.
Mr Mwangi denied sponsoring the June 25 protests and accused his political opponents of trying to tarnish his name.
“I have announced my candidature for the Nakuru gubernatorial seat in 2027 and perhaps that’s why some of my rivals want to malign me. I have shared my side of the story. I want to state categorically that nobody funded the protests. The protesters were ordinary Kenyans and youth who are tired of the current regime. We shall not be intimidated in our quest to bring about leadership change through baseless allegations,” Mr Mwangi said.
He also criticised the proposed law that seeks to restrict protests to specific government-designated areas, arguing it would infringe on Kenyans’ constitutional rights.
His lawyer, Mr Karanja, alleged that the summons were politically motivated and intended to curtail Mr Mwangi’s growing popularity.
“My client was accused of meeting and paying youth to demonstrate and of planning next week’s Saba Saba protests. These allegations are unfounded. He did not meet any youth or fund any protests. They are also accusing him of directing the youth to destroy property. Leaders must stop using security agencies to silence their opponents or the public,” said Mr Karanja.
Ms Wangui also dismissed the interrogation as an act of intimidation.
“We will not be intimidated by State security organs,” she said.
Last week's protests in Nakuru led to the death of a Form Three student from Njenga Karume Secondary School in Molo. The minor was buried on Thursday amid calls for justice from local leaders and the family.
Several people were injured during the demonstrations, and businesses incurred significant losses due to looting by rowdy youth.
In Nyeri, Mr Weru was accused of distributing vuvuzelas and whistles to demonstrators.
He dismissed the accusation as petty, wasteful and a misuse of public resources.
Speaking to the media outside Karatina Police Station, his lawyer, Wambui Mwai, and several of his colleagues said that distributing such items does not constitute a crime under any Kenyan law and described the move as a deliberate attempt to intimidate supporters of the former Deputy President.
Kirimukuyu MCA Anthony Ndagita condemned what he termed a coordinated state campaign to instil fear. He insisted that their commitment to Mr Gachagua and their mission to speak truth to power and inform Kenyans remains firm
Former Magutu Ward MCA Wanjira Wamabati also recorded a statement accusing a senior pro-government politician from the region of threatening her with death if she continued opposing the government.
