Nothing to worry about, Murkomen says on Gachagua return

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen during a past press conference in Nairobi's CBD. [File, Standard]

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has downplayed the planned return of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as insignificant and dismissed leaders celebrating his return.

Gachagua is expected to fly back to the country on Thursday from the US, and his allies are busy planning to accord him a grand welcome in a bid to make a strong political statement.

According to Murkomen, Gachagua will be returning just like any other Kenyan and there is nothing special about his return.

However, it remains to be seen if law enforcement will attempt to break his planned procession and prevent him from addressing a planned rally at Kamukunji ground.

Responding to the media, he castigated allies of Gachagua who were hyping Thursday's arrival plans.

"There are so many people landing in Kenya every day, so I don't know why we should be worried when one person is landing,” said the CS.

Speaking in Murang’a during the Jukwaa la Usalama forum in Murang’a, the CS, accompanied by Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja, however, warned Gachagua and his allies against fanning violence, saying any inflammatory remarks will be dealt with.

"For the time he has been away, the country has been relatively peaceful," said the CS.

He detailed that the security agencies are adequately prepared to deal with any security issues.

“But since we have no control over people’s behaviour and character, we are prepared to protect the citizens and their property at all times," explained the CS.

He recalled that the last time Mr Gachagua was in the country, there were many goons disguised as protesters.