Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Sunday, June 1, used a church service in Lari, Kiambu County, to issue new demands to President William Ruto over the sensitive matter of forced disappearances.
Gachagua said that Ruto’s recent apology on the matter was too casual and did not reflect the seriousness of what had happened to many families.
He told the president to personally meet the parents of those who were killed or abducted during last year’s finance bill protests and offer compensation to them.
According to Gachagua, an apology was not enough, and something more meaningful needed to be done to show the victims and their families that justice still matters in the country.He expressed disappointment with the way Ruto handled the issue.
“I saw Ruto giving an apology in a very casual manner,” Gachagua said. “If he is serious about making an apology to those who were abducted, he should invite the parents of these children.”
His comments reflected the growing anger in some parts of the country over how the government has handled these unresolved disappearances.
Gachagua also seemed to refer to a speech made earlier in the day by Raila Odinga during the Madaraka Day celebrations. Raila, who recently signed a deal with Ruto’s UDA through a Memorandum of Understanding, also asked the president to offer compensation to the victims.
Raila said such a move would help the country move on from the dark chapter that followed last year’s deadly protests.What stood out was that Gachagua, who has often opposed Raila, found himself agreeing with him on this issue.
He stated clearly that since Raila had also raised the matter, Ruto would now likely act on it. “I’ve seen Raila has told you this, and I know you’ll now listen because William Ruto is now dependent on Raila in today’s politics,” Gachagua added.
Also attending the church service was Billy Mwangi, a young man who was among those who disappeared at the end of 2024.
Gachagua used the moment to urge President Ruto to personally reach out to Billy’s parents, apologise, and offer compensation.
He did not stop there. He also asked for compensation for families affected by a recent fire in Gachie village, Kiambu County, which killed three people. He said the government should not ignore such tragedies and must act to help the victims.
Towards the end of his speech, Gachagua accused some Mount Kenya politicians of working against him by leaking his event schedules to people within Ruto’s camp. He claimed that these details were used to send goons to disrupt his meetings.
The government has in the past denied similar accusations, but Gachagua’s remarks point to rising political tension, especially within the Mount Kenya region.
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