Reports circulating on social media platforms, especially X, have alleged that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is missing.
This comes amid a wave of abductions targeting government critics that has been witnessed in the country.
However, a fact-check by The Kenya Times revealed that the information circulating on these platforms is false.
Former DP statement
On Wednesday, January 8, at 1:41 pm, the former DP wrote in social media, clarifying that on Tuesday, January 7, he had an opportunity to continue consulting and listening during a meeting with a delegation from ‘Kîama Kîa Ma’.
The post was accompanied by photos of the former Deputy President posing with nine delegates.
“Yesterday (January 7), I had an opportunity to continue consulting and listening when I met a delegation from ‘Kîama Kîa Ma’,” he said.
“These Senior Elders, mainly County Chairs & County Patrons drawn from various counties shared with me their ideas of what they think are the priorities for the year 2025, and the options they see facing our community especially as regards political direction and social integration.
He added, “These sessions are really useful to us as we set in place our plans for this year.”
The former DP later posted that he met with a team of young leaders from Nyandarua who were led by Njeri Kahiga at his Wamunyoro Residence.
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Standard Group Flags Post of Rigathi Gachagua Missing
At the same time, Standard Media Group flagged the post as false, marking it with a “fake” stamp.
The fake post in the newspaper read, “Abductions: DP Gachagua Missing,” and alleged that Riggy G was untraceable and that his family had reported him missing for the past 16 hours.
It further claimed that Gachagua had been abducted outside the Starbucks Hotel in Karatina town after attending a meeting.
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“Riggy G Untraceable: The family of the impeached Deputy president says he has been missing for the past 16 hours having been picked up outside Starbucks Hotel in Karatina town after attending a meeting,” read part of the flagged post.
However, an additional factcheck revealed that the headline was fabricated and vastly different from what Standard Media Group had actually published.
The Mombasa Road-based media house had run an article with the headline “Abductions: What Does This Man Know?” accompanied by a photo of Inspector General of Police (IG) Douglas Kanja.
The image of the former DP had been inserted into the fake post, obscuring some of the text, which could not fit the alignment rules.
Adding to the red flags is the noticeable difference in font type and size used in the original post.
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Posts of Former DP Missing Are Fake
A similar fake post circulating as a headline from Nation claimed, “Gachagua now President Ruto’s fiercest critic. Gachagua is missing. Under siege as Pastor Dorcas pleads for her husband’s release.
“Credible sources within government circles have confirmed that the disgraced former Deputy President will be charged with treason this Friday,” the fake post read further.
A factcheck revealed that the original headlines from Daily Nation read, “ABDUCTIONS CONSTITUTE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, ACTIVISTS SAY. Men who owe us answers.”
The article highlighted the rising number of abductions, placing security and criminal justice system leaders under scrutiny for their delays and failure to prevent the enforced disappearance of government critics.
The piece also discussed how some rights defenders have initiated court proceedings to bring these abduction cases before the International Criminal Court.
Since leaving office, Gachagua, who was popularly known as Riggy G, remains a top government critic, calling out President William Ruto‘s administration.
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