Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Wednesday intensified the government's attacks on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of creating an atmosphere of fear in the Mt Kenya region to intimidate businesspeople and stoke political tension.
In a statement posted on his X account, Mr Murkomen said security agencies were monitoring the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader's activities, claiming his political campaign posed a threat to peace and economic stability.
"Listening to Gachagua today has confirmed our worst fears that he is on a mission to create an atmosphere of fear and siege in the Mt Kenya region with the sole aim of extorting money from leading businesspeople," Mr Murkomen said.
He added that the government would not allow any individual to intimidate investors or disrupt business through politics, saying security agencies had been instructed to safeguard lives, property and businesses as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
The Interior CS did not disclose the basis of the alleged extortion claims but maintained that law enforcement agencies would continue monitoring the former Deputy President's political activities.
Mr Murkomen's remarks came hours after Mr Gachagua accused President William Ruto of using taxpayer-funded development projects as campaign tools in the run-up to the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro home during a meeting with Westlands constituency leaders, Mr Gachagua claimed the government had suddenly rolled out development projects in the constituency to sway voters in favour of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
The exchange is the latest in an increasingly bitter feud between the two former Kenya Kwanza allies.
Mr Gachagua fell out with President Ruto less than two years into their administration over what he described as the marginalisation of the Mt Kenya region in government appointments, distribution of resources and policy decisions.
The relationship deteriorated further after Mr Gachagua accused the President's allies of orchestrating a political campaign to isolate him from the region that overwhelmingly voted for the Kenya Kwanza coalition in the 2022 General Election.
Their fallout culminated in Mr Gachagua's impeachment as Deputy President, after which he launched the DCP party and embarked on a campaign to rally Mt Kenya voters against President Ruto ahead of the 2027 elections.
Since leaving office, Mr Gachagua has accused the government of using State agencies to frustrate opposition activities, claims the government has consistently denied.
Mr Murkomen has emerged as one of the administration's most vocal critics of the former Deputy President.
On Sunday, the Cabinet Secretary accused Mr Gachagua of promoting ethnic division after referring to some leaders from the Mt Kenya region as "wasaliti" (traitors).
Earlier, while addressing a public rally in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Mr Murkomen warned that security agencies would keep a close watch on the DCP leader.
"Rigathi Gachagua, my business now until Kenya crosses 2027 safely is to monitor your activities. You are my single most point of focus because of the threat you are posing as the father of violence," he said.
Mr Gachagua has rejected the accusations, insisting the government is using security agencies to suppress dissent and disrupt DCP meetings, particularly in Ol Kalou ahead of the July 16 by-election.
The latest war of words underscores the growing political contest over the Mt Kenya region, where President Ruto is seeking to retain support while Mr Gachagua works to consolidate his influence after his dramatic split from the ruling coalition. The Ol Kalou by-election is widely being viewed as an early test of the competing political forces ahead of the 2027 General Election.
