Arrest Gachagua if you have evidence, Murkomen told

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen addresses Elgeyo South residents at Kaptarakwa trading centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County on Saturday, 4, 2026. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

In recent days, Kenyans have witnessed a public altercation between Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the ex-deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.

The two have been throwing jabs at each other at almost every opportunity.

Murkomen has been severally quoted as accusing Gachagua of organising goons to cause mayhem in the country.

The CS who is mandated to ensure national security is accusing Gachagua on social media of being involved in criminal activities.

Nimrod Mbae, Secretary for Planning, DCP, asked Murkomen to arrest party leader Gachagua if he has violated the law.

"If you think Gachagua has offended any law, go ahead and arrest him,” said Mbae.

He said the State cannot arrest Gachagua because he has not violated any law.

The DCP party Leader Rigathi Gachagua, flanked by other party officials during a media briefing at his Karen residence in June 2026. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

“They are only fearful because Gachagua has exposed the government. They have no evidence against Gachagua because he is clean. No one has written any complaints against Gachagua to justify their narratives. The social media posts are only narratives to taint Gachagua as a tribalist, and it is not working," said Mbae.

His statement was echoed by security analysts who also argue that the State should arrest Gachagua if he is found culpable for incitement.

Gitile Naituli, a professor of management and leadership, warned against the weaponisation of the criminal justice system and the police.

He called on the State to hold those with reckless and incorrect statements accountable through the right channels.

“When you have a political problem, you cannot treat it as a security problem. Murkomen should seek political solutions politically; that statement of being targeted economically is not a security threat he should be asked to give an example,” he said.

“If Gachagua says something that is not politically correct, it can amount to legal and there is a law on how to deal with that. Gachagua should be asked to explain his words and also security matters should be addressed through official channels and not social media,” said Professor Naituli.

Byron Adera, an international Safety and Security expert and consultant, said that people in influential positions should carefully evaluate how they address matters in public as they shape opinion and that their words affect not only those who sit around them but a whole population.

“Security should never be politicised because it affects the safety, unity and confidence of the entire country. Leaders, especially those with significant public influence, should recognise that their words carry weight and can shape public perception, fuel divisions or undermine trust in national institutions,” said Adera.

He emphasised that security is not only about actual threats but also about how people feel.

He points to the digital nature of our society and how information transcends continents, investors and the larger international communities.

“When statements on security come from leaders with significant influence, their words carry weight because many people believe and follow them. For that reason, matters of national security should not be politicised, especially when they affect national stability.”

He warns of political statements that drag security into partisan debates that can create fear, deepen political divisions and weaken confidence in agencies responsible for keeping the country safe.

“Politics draws on people's loyalties and social capital. Once security becomes part of political contestation, it risks dividing citizens along political lines and losing its broader purpose of safeguarding the nation. That in itself is dangerous”.

The advice comes after the latest post on social media by the CS Interior stated: “Listening to Gachagua today has confirmed our worst fears that he is on a mission to create an atmosphere of fear and siege in the Mt Kenya region to extort money from leading business people”.

 The post continued, “The business of those who refuse to yield to his intimidation and blackmail is targeted for looting by his gangs and goons. He is the biggest threat to the national security and economy of our country. His utterances and criminal activities are closely monitored by our security agencies. We shall do everything to ensure the people and their properties are protected.”

These remarks come after the ex-deputy president alleged that the president is targeting his community.

“We cannot allow William Ruto and his tribes men to finish whatever little that has remained in this country, the savings of workers of this country through the saccos”

He insisted: “I want to say it in broad daylight I want to tell the people of Mount Kenya that Ruto has targeted them for economic distraction and he told me he cannot allow a community to be big and with resources, he must ensure they have no wealth, he has targeted the business community from the mountain and have started even targeting people from the region who supported their campaign.”

Gachagua continued with his allegation that he was asked by farmers in Eldoret to help them to prevent KCC from being taken.

“When Kibaki took over, he revived KCC. As we speak, farmers from Eldoret have called me asking me to help them so that Ruto, Murkomen and Sudi don’t take it”. In his statement, he also emphasised that Murkomen is fighting him because he is telling people the truth and stated he will continue telling it and they will take him nowhere.

The confrontations have raised concerns from across the country, especially in the run-up to the general election, about why the interior CS is resorting to social media posts rather than initiating prosecutions using the right channel.

Adera urged leaders to keep politics political and security separate. “Clear lines need to be drawn. Political disagreements should remain within the political arena and should not extend into matters of national security, particularly for those who hold or have held sensitive public offices such as the Interior Ministry,” he said.

He added that by the government's own admission, concerns about political instability and insecurity remain among the factors that discourage foreign investment. “Statements that reinforce such perceptions can have consequences far beyond domestic politics. If political supporters are drawn into national security debates, the resulting narrative may deepen perceptions of instability and affect investor confidence and Kenya's international reputation,” Adera said.

Both Professor Naituli, a political analyst and Byron Adera, a security analyst, urged greater restraint from leaders entrusted with significant responsibilities, as to whom much is given, much is also expected. They call on leaders to be unifiers as the country is months from the election.