Stop politicising security matters: MP Dekow to Gachagua

Garissa Township MP Dekow Mohamed has hit out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over what he termed as persistent criticism of Kenya’s security agencies.

Speaking in Garissa town on Saturday, Mohamed accused the former DP of politicising security matters and attempting to interfere with institutions constitutionally mandated to protect the country.

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“It is extremely unfortunate the Gachagua has resorted to criticising security agencies every now and then, making it difficult for them to carry out their mandate. These are constitutional offices that are mandated to carry out their mandate," the MP said.

He urged Gachagua and other politicians to leave the police, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other security agencies to discharge their responsibilities without political intimidation or interference.

“My free advice to him is please leave the security agencies to discharge their responsibilities without political intimidation or interference. Let them do their work. Let them not be intimidated by anybody or any politician—not only him, but any other politician,” he added.

The MP, himself a former military officer, who retired as a major argued that continued political attacks on the institutions risk undermining their ability to perform their duties.

He further accused Gachagua of contradicting himself by repeatedly invoking the Constitution while, in his view, seeking to interfere with institutions established under the same constitutional framework.

“The same Constitution he keeps on referring to as being broken is the one he is using now to break himself,” Barrow said.

The MPs' remarks come against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter confrontation between Gachagua and Kenya's security establishment, particularly the National Police Service and the DCI.

Gachagua has in recent months repeatedly accused elements within the security apparatus of being used for political intimidation and alleged that rogue units have been deployed against government critics and opposition supporters.

Gachagua in the recent past escalated his criticism of the national police service, singling out the top security bosses for criticism.

He alleged that the National Police Service had been transformed into a political tool and claiming that officers accused of involvement in violence had been transferred rather than prosecuted.

The former Deputy President has maintained that his criticism is intended to expose alleged abuse of state institutions and prevent the security apparatus from being used against political opponents.

The DCI has, however, rejected allegations that it is involved in criminal activities or political operations.

The agency has pointed to ongoing investigations and prosecutions as evidence that it continues to discharge its mandate of investigating serious and complex crimes, collecting evidence and presenting cases to the relevant prosecutorial and judicial authorities.

For instance, in the murder of PCEA Tabuga Church Reverend Julius Ndumia Ngari in Nakuru, the DCI said its forensic and intelligence-led investigations resulted in the arrest and arraignment of two suspects. Detectives have continued pursuing other persons of interest in the case.

The DCI has also said investigations into other serious crimes are continuing, including the July killing of clinical psychologist and mental health researcher Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso in Nairobi's Upper Hill area, where homicide detectives and forensic experts were deployed and several persons of interest were subsequently taken into custody.

Garissa High School students during the Annual General Meeting./STEPHEN ASTARIKO