The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has summoned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to record a statement following his explosive claims of surviving two assassination attempts. In a letter addressed to Gachagua on October 21, 2024, the DCI has asked him to appear at its headquarters to assist in investigations, after his public remarks that agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had tried to poison him on two separate occasions.
Gachagua, who was recently impeached by the Senate, alleged during a press conference on October 20 that he narrowly escaped being poisoned in August and September this year. He claimed that on August 30, while in Kisumu, undercover agents entered his hotel room, bugged it, and attempted to poison his food. He said he detected the plot and fled before it could materialize.
“On the 30th of August, undercover security agents entered my room in Kisumu and bugged it. One of them tried to poison my food, but we detected it and were able to escape the scheme,” Gachagua revealed during the press briefing. He went on to allege a second attempt just days later, on September 3, in Nyeri. According to Gachagua, NIS agents once again tried to poison food meant for him and a group of Kikuyu elders during a meeting.
The DCI’s letter acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, stating that such claims could not be ignored. “These are serious allegations emanating from a person of your stature and cannot be taken lightly,” read the letter, signed by the Directorate’s Corporate Communications officer, John Marete. Gachagua has been asked to present himself on October 22, at the DCI’s Mazingira Complex offices on Kiambu Road to formally record his statement.
Gachagua’s allegations have added a new layer of controversy to his ongoing battle with President William Ruto’s administration. Once considered one of Ruto’s closest allies, Gachagua’s relationship with the president has deteriorated in recent months. He claims his willingness to speak out against unpopular government policies has made him a target for political elimination.
“My only problem with the president is just being truthful,” Gachagua said during his press conference, referencing his opposition to Ruto’s taxation policies and forced housing projects. He claimed that his forthrightness on these issues led to his impeachment and subsequent removal from office. “Don’t overtax people, you are killing their businesses. Don’t force a housing program on people if they don’t own these houses,” he said.
Gachagua’s impeachment, which he has dismissed as politically motivated, shocked many in Kenya’s political circles. He maintains that the 11 charges brought against him were baseless, accusing the president of orchestrating his removal to replace him with someone more loyal. “The 11 counts against me are nothing but malice and fiction. It was a political game by the president to get rid of me,” Gachagua claimed.
He also questioned the speed of his impeachment, arguing that it violated the constitutional provisions designed to ensure due process. “Why is a job prescribed to be done in 74 days being done in half a day?” Gachagua asked, referring to the timeline for impeachment proceedings set out in Kenya’s constitution.
Throughout his address, Gachagua expressed deep feelings of betrayal, recalling his key role in helping Ruto win the presidency during the 2022 elections. He said that unlike other politicians, who demanded written agreements before supporting Ruto, he placed his trust in their shared Christian faith. “I am the only man who trusted him verbally because we are Christians. We used to go to church together, and as a Christian, I believed a fellow Christian would never betray me,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president also voiced fears for his safety, particularly after the withdrawal of his security detail, which he claimed was ordered by President Ruto. He revealed that both his residence and hospital were left unguarded, placing him and his family at risk. “The deputy president of the Republic of Kenya has no single security officer around him. I’m alone,” he said.
Gachagua warned that his life remains in danger and called on the public to hold President Ruto accountable should anything happen to him or his family. “If anything happens to me or my family, President William Ruto must be held to account,” he stated firmly.
Despite his precarious position, Gachagua vowed to continue seeking justice, calling on Chief Justice Martha Koome to ensure that his case is treated fairly by the judiciary. He expressed hope that the courts would uphold the constitution and give him a fair hearing. “Let the courts of law uphold and protect our constitution,” he said.
