I skipped burial to avoid attack by goons, Gachagua claims

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua skipped the burial of six accident victims who are family members after he learnt of a planned attack by hired goons.

Speaking to mourners through a phone call in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of being behind the disruption of church services and burial ceremonies he has attended lately.

He was delivering his condolence message by phone during the burial of the six Limuru family members who died when their vehicle hit a stationary truck along the Naivasha-Gilgil road on March 30.

The deceased were businessman Francis Muturi, who was driving the ill-fated Toyota Prado, his three young children, Fidelis Waithera, Cathy Wanjiru and Vitalis Muturi. Also dead were Muturi’s two brothers, Peter Mwangi, George Ngugi and the family maid’s young child.

They were laid to rest at the family land in Embul Bul village in Gilgil sub county in an emotional send off attended by area MP Martha Wangari, her colleagues Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Peter Kiragu (Limuru) and Liz Chelule (Nakuru Woman Rep).

When Kihara took to the podium she said she would call Gachagua to deliver his message on phone amid wild cheers from the mourners.

“I had intentions to attend the burial but I learnt that Ruto’s goons had been set up to attack me and my supporters. He is the one who sent hooligans to disrupt a church service I was attending in Kasarani, Nairobi recently,” said Gachagua.

While condemning the attacks by goons on churchgoers, the former DP said he will not be deterred from telling Kenyans the truth and speaking about bad governance.

“Our God is still on the throne and we shall not give up. Let those leaders present at the burial who move around with Ruto tell him to stop harassing leaders who are critical of his regime,” Gachagua said.

He termed the deaths as a huge blow not only to the family but also the country and pledged a cash donation of Sh 200,000 in support of the family.

Road safety officials, Edward Gitonga and David Kiarie, who attended the burial asked the government to declare the runaway road carnage a national disaster.

Gitonga of Speed Governors and Road Safety Association at the same time called for the dualing of Rironi – Mau Summit road to reduce the death toll along the stretch.

“This road was okayed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta for dualling in 2018 but seven years down nothing has happened while our people continue to die daily,” Gitonga lamented.

Kiarie, while supporting the call to declare road accident deaths a national disaster, criticised Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir’s directive on resumption of use of alcoblow devices on the roads, saying it will have no impact.

“The CS knows what causes the deaths on our roads is failure by his people to enforce the law and we have said this many times before,” stated Kiarie.