Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has distanced himself from the recent chaos that erupted in Isiolo County during President William Ruto’s public address.
The incident occurred on Friday, February 7, 2025, during Ruto’s four-day tour of Kenya’s Northeastern region, where he faced a hostile reception from sections of the local youth.
In a joint media interview on Sunday, February 9, Gachagua dismissed claims linking him to the unrest, firmly denying any involvement in inciting the crowd against the president.
The former DP emphasised that he was not present in Isiolo during the incident and had no connection to the youth’s actions.
Gachagua criticized the government’s response to the situation, pointing out that the young people involved were arrested and subjected to harsh treatment following the confrontation.
He also condemned President Ruto’s reaction, accusing him of resorting to personal attacks against the youth, including allegations of drug abuse, simply because they expressed their dissatisfaction by challenging his statements during the event.
“Was it really me who was in Isiolo when people shouted ‘uongo’ at him? I was at my place. That evening, the youth were arrested and beaten, and the president insulted them, accusing them of drug usage to their disadvantage, just because they told him he was lying,” Gachagua stated.
Ruto in Isiolo
The confrontation unfolded when a section of the youth clashed verbally during the rally. The tension escalated, forcing President Ruto and his allies to struggle to deliver their message amid loud chants of “uongo” (lies) from the crowd.
Reacting to the disruption, President Ruto asserted that drug traffickers had orchestrated the chaos by sending youths to disrupt the meeting.
He issued a warning, emphasizing the government’s stance against such activities.
“I am aware that drug dealers have sent the youth to come and cause a disturbance at this meeting. Be warned, young people—you cannot threaten the government. A foreigner cannot come and turn Isiolo into a drug den. It won’t happen,” Ruto asserted.
Elders apologise to Ruto
Elders from the Somali community formally apologized to President William Ruto following the heckling incident.
Addressing the media on Sunday, the elders, led by Somali Council of Elders Chairperson Abdulkadir Shariff, expressed their disappointment over the disrespect shown to the Head of State during his address.
“Our main reason for coming out to speak today is as a result of what happened during the President’s visit while addressing residents at the Prisons land,” Shariff said.
Shariff emphasized that the incident did not reflect the values of the Somali community or the residents of Isiolo.
“We are not happy about what happened especially we the Somalis and all the good people of Isiolo. There was no reason to heckle the Head of State,” he added.
