Govt Acts as Chaos Mar Gachagua’s Arrival

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen now says the government has commenced investigations into yesterday’s incident where several journalists covering DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagu’s arrival from the United States were violently attacked and injured.
Speaking on Saturday afternoon during theJulwa la Usalamaforum in Kirinyaga, Murkomen warned that stern action would be taken against those found culpable, regardless of their political standing.
“Those events will be investigated, and anybody who is found culpable, regardless of their political standing, will be held accountable. Anybody who organised for people to be stoned, including journalists who were hurt, we will take very stern action,” Murkomen said.
In his speech, the CS accused Gachagua’s party of allegedly failing to notify the police in advance about their planned procession despite initial calls for them to do so.
According to Murkomen,thepolice were not aware of the gatheringswithin the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Mombasa Road.
“When I said they need to notify the police, I heard one of their leaders, a former senator, saying that they have no obligation to notify the police and that they do not need a police officer to hold a meeting,” the CS stated.
Adding, “So, unfortunately, as a result of the lack of notification to the police, the police were not aware of what was going to happen. I wish they had heeded my advice.”
Murkomen’s comments come hours afterseveral people, including journalists from Royal Media Services,TV47and Standard Group, were injuredafter chaos erupted during Gachagua’s arrival procession.
The confrontation reportedly began around Cabanas on Mombasa Road, where goons hurled stones at each other, prompting a response from the police.
Footage obtained byKenyans.co.keshowed the youths hurling stones at vehicles in the former DP’s entourage, forcing his convoy to slow down as the situation escalated.
The rowdy youth went ahead to barricade the road with rocks and stones, paralysing traffic and disrupting movement, disrupting Gachagua’s convoy from proceeding to Kamukunji, where he had been scheduled to address his supporters.
However, moments into the incident, the police, who were on high alert alert quickly intervened and began dispersing the youth who were armed with crude weapons.