Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised alarm over alleged state surveillance and threats to his safety, claiming he is being trailed by security agents in unmarked cars.
Speaking out on Wednesday night, Gachagua urged Kenyans to hold the government accountable if anything happens to him.
“In this era of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions, and disappearances by state agents, 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,” he said.
Gachagua stated that vehicles have been stationed outside his Nairobi residence, monitoring his visitors and following him whenever he leaves the house. The surveillance, he said, extends even to his rural home in Nyeri.
“Last Sunday, the below saloon car that was parked at the entrance to my residence trailed me to PCEA Kerarapon Church, followed me to where I went for a late lunch, and back to the house! Upon checking the NTSA portal, I noticed that the number plates are registered to a lorry,” Gachagua revealed, sharing a photo of the alleged vehicle on social media.
Expressing frustration, Gachagua appealed to the state to respect his privacy and allow him to live peacefully as a private citizen.
“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 said.
He likened the alleged surveillance to practices seen during the era of the feared ‘Special Branch,’ a notorious intelligence unit known for its oppressive tactics.
When contacted for a response, both Police Spokesperson Resila Onyango and Nairobi Police Boss Adamson Bungei declined to comment.
This is not the first time Gachagua has raised concerns about harassment. Last week, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) denied reports that detectives attempted to stop him from attending a church event at Priesthood Fellowship Church in Kahawa West.
Gachagua, who attended the service with his allies on November 10, claimed that police had tried to interfere. The DCI dismissed the allegations, stating that no unmarked Subaru vehicle was used to target the former DP.
Following his concerns over safety, Gachagua was assigned four security officers. However, he continues to insist that the surveillance and intimidation have persisted.
