Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has issued a stern warning to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of inciting chaos.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 25, Barasa claimed that the former DP was behind an attack on the residence of Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, allegedly orchestrating and deploying a group to carry out the incident.
The allegations come amid nationwide demonstrations marking the anniversary of the June 25, 2024, anti-Finance Bill protests, which have seen unrest in several parts of the country, including Nyeri County.
MP threatens to attack the residence owned by Gachagua
Barasa further threatened to retaliate by “dispatching 2,000 individuals” to Gachagua’s Karen residence if the attacks continued.
“Rigathi Gachagua, you are hereby ordered to immediately cease deploying thugs to terrorize the residence of MP Eric Wamumbi with the intent to sow chaos and anarchy. This disgraceful and cowardly act must stop at once,” said Barasa.
“Withdraw your goons within the next 30 minutes, or we will respond by dispatching 2,000 equally determined individuals to your Karen residence for an uninvited reckoning. Consider this your final warning.”
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Earlier in Nyeri, residents marched to the streets in solidarity with the Gen Z-led protests, as the June 25 demonstrations gained momentum nationwide.
Protesters, many of them young people, organized a peaceful procession along Gakere Road, pledging to avoid violence or property damage while calling for justice, accountability, and reforms in governance.
Despite the widespread mobilization, former DP Gachagua—who hails from the region—was notably absent from the protests and has not been seen in public since the demonstrations began early Wednesday.
June 25 protests
Nationwide, Kenyans marched to commemorate the first anniversary of the dramatic storming of Parliament during last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
Participants included families of victims, rights groups, and youth who led the demonstrations in 2024.
While the commemorations began peacefully, concerns have been raised that tensions could escalate as the day progresses.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has since issued a directive ordering all television and radio stations to immediately cease live coverage of the ongoing protests.
In a notice signed by CA Director General David Mugonyi, the regulator warned that airing the demonstrations live contravenes Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution and Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998.
“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” the CA said, adding that failure to comply would attract regulatory action.
In defiance of the directive, the Standard Media Group issued a statement confirming that it would continue broadcasting in the public interest until the legality of the order is clarified.
Standard Media Group fires back
The media house, which owns KTN News and several radio stations, noted that it was consulting with its legal team to determine the constitutionality of the directive, describing it as a move aimed at plunging the country into a “news blackout.”
“The Standard Group has seen a letter circulating from the Communication Authority of Kenya ordering all television and radio stations to immediately stop all live broadcasting of demonstrations,” the statement read in part.
“Whereas KTN and the Group’s radio stations — Radio Maisha, Spice and Berur –have not received their copies of this order, editors from other media houses have confirmed that indeed this is the position.”
The Group also alleged that the CA had directed signal distributors to deplatform any outlet broadcasting the protests live—similar to threats issued during the anti-Finance Bill protests in 2024.
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