Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday strongly criticised the government for using security personnel to intimidate elected leaders with dissident opinions.
Speaking at the ACK St. Patrick’s Church in Kayole, the deputy president noted with concern the increased use of security officers to manage politics terming it as retrogressive and a violation of democracy.
“I would like to ask the security officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), please don’t take us back to where we came from. The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics made the fourth administration very unpopular,” he stated.
While referring to the case of Embakasi Central Member of Parliament Benjamin Gathiru and his counterpart of Embakasi North, James Gakuya, who were interrogated by officers from the DCI, Gachagua asked police officers to be guided by the Constitution.
Embakasi Central Member of Parliament Benjamin Gathiru, alias Meja Donk during a past event.
“It doesn’t make sense to harass Gakuya and Gathiru for no reason because of politics, arresting them, confiscating their phones and intimidating them,” he added.
He further called on the DCI officers to release the phones of the two MPs that were confiscated during their interrogation.
He noted that the purpose of intimidation to cow elected leaders only emboldens them and makes the current regime unpopular.
In what seems to be a slap to his boss, Gachagua noted harassment only makes the government’s critics popular. “Harassment of elected leaders is counterproductive it makes them very popular,” he observed.
Deputy President Gachagua further asked police officers to adhere to professionalism and uphold codes of ethics.
“I want to ask our investigative agencies to be professional and to deal with crime in accordance with the law,” Gachagua stated.
In his plea, the DP told officers to be guided by the Kenyan Constitution, the penal code, the criminal procedure court and the evidence act which are sufficient to make them grounded without being used for political witch hunts.
“Don’t harass elected leaders, don’t be misused to engage in politics just do your work, we have enough problems of crime in Nairobi City.”
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya during a court proceeding
Photo
NMG
