Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emphasized the government’s readiness to protect life and property during the planned demonstrations by the opposition.
The DP said the government will ensure the rule of law was fully enforced in the ongoing protests he termed as post-election violence sponsored by opposition leaders.
Speaking on Saturday during an interdenominational thanksgiving church service at Silungai Primary School in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County, Mr Gachagua reiterated the government’s resolve to firmly discharge its constitutional mandate to ensure Kenyans are safe from violent goons.
“This is no longer demonstrating. It is post-election violence characterized by mugging, looting and violent robberies. The government will assert its authority in protecting lives and property and enforcing the rule of law,” the DP said.
He said the protests had been turned into a party of criminals disguised as protesters who are attacking people and destroying property.
“We cannot allow this to continue to happen, nobody will be allowed to attack people, destroy property and loot,” added the DP.
The Deputy President said the Penal Code was clear on the punitive actions for those perpetrating such crimes.
He said the opposition leader Raila Odinga had perfected the strategy of instigating violence so he could force himself into government.
“His intention is to cause violence, have people killed, destroy property and then force his way into government through handshake,” added the DP, dismissing any attempts to hold any talks with him on running the government.
The DP also asked the former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the Azimio Chairman, to stop financing the violent demonstrations.
“As you finance violence, know you can’t control it,” he said.
The DP also said the opposition had lost support from the international community which he said had seen first-hand how violent it was.
“They cannot help those who are known to incite violence to undermine democracy,” he said.
The Deputy President praised residents in Western Kenya counties for ignoring calls to demonstrate urging them to focus on building the country instead of destroying it.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, who accompanied the DP to the event, told off the leader of the opposition for inciting anarchy in the country because of a lost election.
“He cannot take us for fools. The President of Kenya is known. If he has any issues he should wait until 2027. He is fanning anarchy. Anarchy begets anarchy,” Mr Mudavadi said.
Mr Wetangula said the country had moved on after elections, saying President William Ruto’s win was validated by Constitutional bodies.
“If we always resort to violence after losing an election, we cannot have a country,” he said.
