I’m ready to pay the price for stopping Mungiki revival, says DP Gachagua

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a stern warning against any attempts to revive outlawed Mungiki gangs in Mt Kenya region, saying he is ready to pay the political price to ensure they are fully dealt with.

The Deputy President said the government is on high alert and would swiftly move in to stop attempts by the gang’s leaders and their sympathizers from recruiting young people in the region.

Gachagua noted that heinous acts Mungiki members committed previously were still fresh in the memories of residents.

Speaking when he accompanied President William Ruto at Karomboithi Village in Njabini, Nyandarua County for the burial of Senator John Methu’s father Michael Maigo Waweru, the DP said no one will be allowed to misuse youth from the region.

“I am ready to pay any political price to protect these women and our young girls from the criminal gang. We cannot allow this,” he stated.

President William Ruto speaking during an event at Karomboithi Village in Njabini, Nyandarua County on January 2, 2024. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua/X

He added that those involved in the attempted revival of Mungiki will face the full wrath of the law.

“An attempt is being made to revive that criminal gang. Two months ago, they were back in bus stages extorting from matatu operators and business owners.

“That cannot happen. We cannot allow anyone to misuse our youths and engage them in crime. We have a responsibility to protect our young people from being misused by anybody,” said Gachagua.

At the same time, the deputy President said police have played a big role in ensuring order after an attempt to revive criminal gangs in the country.

“We thank our security teams in Central Kenya and in the Rift Valley for their swift action in the last three months. The attempt to revive the gang has been stopped and people are now going about their business without fear,” he said.

Gachagua also said the fight against illicit brew and drugs was bearing fruit, adding that efforts had seen the vice drastically reduced in the last one year.

“We have succeeded in the fight against illicit drinks. our community was almost becoming extinct because of the deliberate proliferation of poisonous drinks in the region.

“We must protect our young people because we have a responsibility to do so,” said the DP who is leading the war against alcoholism in the country.

In 2023, he held meetings with security teams in various regions in the country in a bid to heighten the fight against alcohol abuse.