Gachagua impeachment: Sifuna decries violence during public participation

By Peter Ochieng

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has condemned the move by certain Kenyans to cause chaos and violence during a public participation exercise.

Cases of violence were reported in several parts of the country, as Kenyans turned out to give their views on the proposed impeachment of Deputy President (DP), Rigathi Gacahagua on Friday.

In a post on X formerly Twitter, Senator Sifuna who doubles up as Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Secretary General said there can never be justification for violence against anyone.

“There is absolutely no reason for violence. There can never be justification for violence against anyone. Let everyone air their views unhindered because that is what democracy demands.”

“The scenes from some of the public participation forums across the country are shameful and must be condemned,” he said.

At the Bomas of Kenya, accountability activist Morara Kebaso was stopped from accessing the venue where the exercise was ongoing. He however managed to access the venue, only to be attacked by people believed to be ‘hired goons.’

“I was barred from entering Bomas at the gate. When I finally got in, I was denied the microphone at Bomas floor. Chaos erupted. I am hurt. Headed to hospital. I live to speak another day,” he shared.

In Ol-Kalou, Nyandarua County, chaos erupted during the exercise. The exercise was going on peacefully at the Ol-Kalou Constituency NG-CDF offices next to the regional County Commissioner’s office, before chaos erupted sooner after residents protested terming the process as skewed.

They claimed that Members of Parliament from the county who supported the impeachment of the Gachagua, had interfered with the exercise. Police swung into action and restored order, only for members of the public to storm out of the Hall chanting ‘no Rigathi, no Ruto.”

Cases of violence were also reported in other parts of the country, including Eldoret.