Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged that he is being subjected to state surveillance and intimidation, drawing parallels to tactics employed during Kenya's one-party rule under President Daniel arap Moi.
Speaking out about his ordeal, Gachagua claimed that security agents in unmarked vehicles have been closely monitoring his movements. "Security agents in unmarked cars have been following me wherever I go. They are parking at the entrance of my Nairobi residence, taking note of all my visitors, and they trail me whenever I leave the house, even all the way to my rural home in Nyeri," he said.
Gachagua detailed a recent incident on Sunday, where a suspicious saloon car parked near his Nairobi residence followed him throughout the day. "The car trailed me to PCEA Kerarapon Church, then to where I had lunch, and back to my residence," he disclosed. After checking the vehicle's registration details on the NTSA portal, Gachagua discovered that the number plates were registered to a lorry, further raising his concerns about the motives behind the surveillance.
Drawing comparisons to past authoritarian practices, Gachagua lamented, "This surveillance and intimidation of Kenyans was last witnessed during the era of the dreaded ‘Special Branch’ during the 24 years of Moi's misrule!" He linked the current situation to the rise of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions, and disappearances allegedly carried out by state agents in Kenya.
The former deputy president urged the state to respect his privacy, emphasizing that he is now a private citizen. "I have thought it important to share with Kenyans the harassment and intimidation I am going through and inform them to hold the state responsible if I am harmed by state agents. I request the state to leave me alone! You hounded me out of office, and you should now allow me to enjoy my peace as a private citizen," he stated.
These allegations come amid heightened political tensions in the country, with Gachagua's claims adding to concerns about the potential misuse of state apparatus to target individuals. The government is yet to respond to these allegations.
You must be logged in to post a comment.