Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua strongly criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of trying to suppress dissent ahead of the Finance Bill 2025.
In a detailed statement on Monday, June 2, Gachagua, one of the most vocal opponents of the Kenya Kwanza government, pointed to the recent arrest of Rose Njeri as a clear example of the government’s supposed use of fear and intimidation to silence critics of the Finance Bill.
“Instead of encouraging dialogue and reforms, the government is intensifying its crackdown on opposition by using fear and intimidation to silence voices of dissent, especially with the new Finance Bill looming,” Gachagua asserted.
Njeri was arrested and taken into police custody on Sunday, May 30, after creating an online platform to help people submit objections to the Finance Bill.
The activist’s arrest has drawn widespread criticism from Kenyans, and Gachagua has added his voice, saying the government aims to silence the bravery of the younger generation.
“This isn’t just an attack on Rose; it’s part of a broader assault on the youth of this nation. It’s an effort to crush their courage, their creativity, and their faith in the strength of their own voices,” the former Deputy President stated.
Gachagua stated that Rose’s recent arrest is just one of many tactics the government is using to suppress its critics. He also criticized CS Murkomen’s recent push for laws to criminalize fake disappearances.
On May 31, Murkomen responded to strong evidence indicating that Juja MP George Koimburi had staged his own disappearance, only to reappear days later. Noting that legislation on staged kidnappings was lacking, Murkomen urged the National Assembly to quickly pass laws that would hold offenders accountable.
However, Gachagua argued that Murkomen’s call to outlaw fake disappearances was a deliberate attempt to further silence those speaking out against injustice.
