Limuru Residents Share Painful Memories in The Hands of DO Rigathi Gachagua

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s old files have been revisited, barely a month after his nomination as Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate in the August 9 General Election.

Gachagua met the late former President Daniel Arap Moi while he was a student leader at the University of Nairobi (UoN). Moi tasked him to identify students’ groups that were rising against his administration.

By the time he was completing his bachelor’s degree, Gachagua had build a strong rapport with Moi.

He was immediately roped into the civil service.

In 1990s, the lawmaker served as District Officer (DO) in different parts of the country, including Kakamega, Molo in Nakuru County and Limuru.

Some residents of Limuru have now come forward to recount the harrowing experiences they endured while Gachagua was area’s DO.

This was one of the areas that Moi had mapped as a red zone. Why? Former Kiharu MP Kenneth Matiba, one of the fiercest critics of Kanu, operated from his Limuru home.

When Gachagua was deployed Limuru, he just one job – to counter any forces that were believed to be helping Matiba advance his movement.

“We were all treated as suspects. Police were doing patrols round the clock to ensure there were no people in shopping centres. The worst nightmare was to be arrested by Gachagua’s officers. Youths would be taken to Tigoni police station and beaten like dogs.

“I recall very clearly that several people were assaulted until they died. Others would be taken to court with trumped-up charges like murder,” a man, who claims that he is a victim of Gachagua’s brutality, narrated.

Another recalled that his brother was beaten up by the men in uniform and left for the dead. He succumbed to his injuries days later.

“We get goosebumps when Gachagua’s name is mentioned,” he said.

They are warning Kenyans against electing the Ruto-Gachagua ticket.

Supporters of Ruto and Gachagua have dismissed the confessions, saying that the said victims have been paid to lie.

However, Gachagua is on record as saying that he was once a DO in Limuru.

He admitted that a lot of atrocities happened, but defended himself, noting he was just following orders from above.

“It’s true police brutality was very much alive those days, but now we are more civilised. Moi was the President and if there is something that went wrong, he is to blame. That was his style of leadership. Mine was to just says ‘yes sir’ when an order came,” he said during an interview on Inooro TV last year.