Gachagua Dares Simba Arati Infront Of Ruto
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday vowed to withdraw Kisii Governor Simba Arati’s security once again if he leads anti-government protests in the county.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving mass at Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High School in Kisii, DP Gachagua admitted withdrawing Arati’s security during the heightened maandamano period in July.
According to Gachagua, the decision was pegged on protecting Arati’s armed aides from a confrontation with police deployed to quell riots.
“Simba Arati, my friend, you were lamenting over security officers being withdrawn. We did not have any issue, and it is not the President who withdrew your security but me,” Gachagua noted.
“If you return to protests with your officers, we will withdraw them again because we cannot allow officers to injure each other. Do you know why? It was because of a minor thing. An officer’s work is to quell protests. So if you take your officers to the same protests, they will hurt each other,” he added.
Gachagua claimed that security officers attached to opposition leaders sided with protestors against those sent by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to protect lives and property.
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“So we decided since the protests were going on, we saw it was good to rest those officers protesting against the government until the demonstrations are over. Once the protests are over, we restore your officers.”
Gachagua, despite warning Governor Arati over leading anti-government protests, lauded Kisii residents for embracing peace, further advising them to desist from taking to the streets.
“I am very confident you cannot return to protests, and Kisii people do not love destruction. They are people who love development,” Gachagua argued.
“Now, Governor, things are simple. It was just a minor issue, and I told you to calm down. You were castigating me, and I told you if you are of good behavior, we will give you security, as simple as that.”
Arati steered away from a confrontation with Gachagua and instead thanked him for restoring his security officers. In September this year, he faulted Gachagua for what he alleged was a witchhunt and the government’s move to weaken opposition leaders.
“I am happy that you restored by security, I had none, and now I have them all, and when we spoke, I am happy they came back, and we can work together,” Arati noted.
Gachagua Dares Simba Arati Infront Of Ruto
