Murkomen, Gachagua Escalate War of Words Over Security, Mount Kenya Politics
The public feud between Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has intensified, with both leaders exchanging sharp accusations over security, politics, and the future of the Mount Kenya region.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro residence while meeting delegates from Westlands Constituency, Gachagua dismissed Murkomen’s warning that security agencies were monitoring his activities, insisting he would not be intimidated into silence.
The former Deputy President claimed the government was using allegations of incitement to suppress his criticism of President William Ruto’s administration and vowed to continue speaking out on issues affecting Kenyans.
“People want to tell you I’m telling people the truth. There’s nothing you can do to me. I’ll continue telling the people of Kenya the truth.”
Gachagua also criticized the government’s plans for the dairy sector, alleging that proposals to allow farmers to own milk processing factories in their respective regions would weaken the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) by reducing its market share.
His remarks came days after President William Ruto announced plans to restructure the dairy sector by promoting farmer-owned processing factories, drawing comparisons with the successful Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) model.
According to Gachagua, his opposition to the government’s dairy reforms has been unfairly portrayed as incitement.
The DCP leader further accused the government of deliberately targeting businesses and entrepreneurs from the Mount Kenya region, claiming political intimidation was being used against those perceived to oppose the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Murkomen responded with a strongly worded statement, accusing Gachagua of exploiting regional politics to create fear and insecurity among residents and business people in Mount Kenya.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary alleged that Gachagua was attempting to portray the region as being under siege for political gain while intimidating business owners for financial support.
Murkomen further accused the former Deputy President of promoting divisive politics and tolerating violence against businesses belonging to individuals who refuse to support his political agenda.
“Gachagua is the biggest threat to national unity and the economy of our country. His utterances and criminal activities are closely being monitored by security agencies, and we shall do everything to ensure that the people and their properties are protected.”
The statement signaled that security agencies are closely monitoring Gachagua’s activities, with Murkomen warning that anyone found violating the law would face appropriate legal action.
Despite the warning, Gachagua maintained that he would not be cowed by what he described as attempts to intimidate the opposition through state power.
The latest confrontation adds to the growing political tension between the two leaders, who have repeatedly clashed in recent weeks over issues including national security, political violence, regional politics, and the government’s handling of opposition activities.
As political temperatures continue to rise ahead of the 2027 General Election, the exchange between Murkomen and Gachagua reflects the increasingly confrontational relationship between the government and sections of the opposition, with both sides accusing the other of threatening national stability.
