Former Deputy President Rigathi
Gachagua went into hiding on Sunday evening after learning of plans to arrest
him.
Top government
officials had earlier given warnings of plans to arrest and question Gachagua
over alleged incitement remarks he had made earlier.
Gachagua evaded a police dragnet in Muranga and drove towards his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri as police pursued him.
It is not clear yet whether he got home, as police officers had already been deployed at the residence.
Officials aware of the operations said they did not find him during the night.
One of his lawyers, Ndegwa Njiru, said Sunday police had laid a siege on his homes.
“To all media houses, kindly be informed that the DCI has taken hostage of all HE Rigathi Gachagua’s both at Karen and at Wamunyoro. They are currently man-hunting him. We are yet to be informed of the reasons,” he said in a post on Sunday night.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the developments, terming them intimidation.
“This intimidation of the Opposition must stop. If you want to arrest Deputy President @rigathi, do it the right way; follow the law. We are prepared to produce DP Gachagua before the @DCI_Kenya. Please stop abducting Kenyans and their leaders. Abductions are primitive and cowardly.”
There was no immediate comment from Gachagua on Monday morning.
Heavily armed and
masked police officers had earlier Sunday taken position at Jogoo Kimakia near Blue
Post, Thika, reportedly aiming to arrest Gachagua.
Gachagua
has been hard-hitting with his statements directed at the government.
Other sources said there are plans to arrest and question Gachagua and his security guards over the recent fracas that happened when he was launching his political party, DCP.
Gachagua had, on Sunday, while in Murang'a, denied claims he had incited Kenyans over the 2027 polls.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had earlier warned that they would take action on political leaders seen to be inciting Kenyans.
“We will put you in jail, and there’s nothing you’ll do about it,” he said.
Speaking in Nandi County during the Thanksgiving ceremony for retired AIC Bishop Patrice Chumba, Murkomen condemned what he termed as a reckless, tribal-driven political agenda threatening national unity.
"You better choose peace, because this country must have peace. We won't allow anyone to burn it down," he warned.
