Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto's administration of weaponising the criminal justice system against political opponents following the arrest of Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia, warning that the strategy could backfire just as it did under the previous administration.
In a statement issued on Monday, Gachagua described Kaguchia's overnight arrest as politically motivated and claimed it was part of a wider crackdown targeting leaders allied to his camp ahead of the 2027 General Election.
"The use of the criminal justice system to manage politics is synonymous with outgoing, cowardly regimes," Gachagua said.
He argued that selectively applying the law against political opponents would only strengthen the opposition rather than weaken it.
"The selective application of the law is counterproductive. I thought this lost regime should be reminded," he added.
Gachagua drew comparisons with the Jubilee administration, recalling how politicians allied to then Deputy President William Ruto were frequently arrested and prosecuted during the fallout between Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to Gachagua, those arrests failed to diminish Ruto's political influence and instead rallied public sympathy behind him and his allies.
"The Fourth Administration was notorious for using the criminal justice system to suppress dissent and force people to support an unpopular candidate. It didn't work. The more they did it, the more Kenyans became hardened and their resolve grew stronger," he said.
He accused President Ruto of abandoning the position he held while serving as Deputy President, when he openly criticised what he termed politically motivated arrests.
"Mr William Ruto, then the Deputy President, wondered aloud how foolish the system was and seemed to enjoy every arrest because his foot soldiers became overnight celebrities and darlings of the people. Today, as President, he is doing exactly what he once condemned. Has it suddenly become wise?" Gachagua posed.
The former Deputy President maintained that Kaguchia's arrest would instead elevate the legislator's standing within the opposition.
"The overnight harassment and early morning arrest of Hon. John Kaguchia only strengthen the resolve of our supporters and elevate his standing within our leadership hierarchy," he said.
Gachagua added that lawyers representing the MP were seeking his release on bond ahead of his expected arraignment in court.
"Our lawyers are doing everything possible to secure his release on bond pending his arraignment tomorrow," he said before ending his statement with the slogan, "Aluta continua."
Background
Kaguchia's arrest comes against the backdrop of an escalating political confrontation between President Ruto and his former deputy, Gachagua, whose relationship collapsed after months of public disagreements over government policy and political influence.
Since leaving government, Gachagua has emerged as one of Ruto's fiercest critics, accusing the administration of political intolerance, selective justice and targeting leaders associated with his political movement. Several MPs and politicians aligned to him have in recent months alleged harassment by investigative agencies, claims that have intensified political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The latest arrest also follows a series of fiery political exchanges between leaders allied to the government and the opposition over alleged incitement, abuse of State agencies and the shrinking democratic space.
The government has consistently rejected accusations of political persecution, insisting that investigative agencies and prosecutors operate independently and that anyone found to have broken the law will be dealt with irrespective of political affiliation.
President Ruto himself previously criticised what he described as the misuse of State agencies during the latter years of the Jubilee administration, when he and several of his allies were subjected to investigations, arrests and court cases following his fallout with former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Ruto repeatedly argued then that the criminal justice system should never be used as a political weapon, a position now being invoked by Gachagua against his former boss.
Kaguchia's arrest is expected to deepen the political standoff between the two camps as the battle for influence ahead of the 2027 General Election gathers momentum, with both sides accusing each other of undermining democratic principles while pledging to uphold the rule of law.
