Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is under investigation and faces possible arrest following controversial remarks made during an interview with media personality Oga Obinna on May 17, 2025. The comments, which the State has deemed inciteful, have sparked widespread concern over their potential to provoke unrest ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Elections.
During the widely viewed interview on the “Obinna Show Live,” Gachagua warned that any mismanagement of the upcoming elections by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could plunge the country into unprecedented violence. “If the IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here. 2007 will look like a Christmas party,” Gachagua said, referencing the deadly 2007–2008 post-election violence.
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from government leaders and civil society groups, who view them as inflammatory and irresponsible. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki both condemned the comments, affirming that no one regardless of political status will be permitted to jeopardize national peace.
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has launched a review of the interview footage to determine whether Gachagua’s statements constitute hate speech or incitement under Kenyan law.
As investigations continue, the incident has reignited national debate on the responsibility of political figures in promoting unity and safeguarding peace.
