Wajir East Member of Parliament Aden Daud has launched a scathing attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks, accusing him of reckless, divisive rhetoric that threatens Kenya’s national unity and social cohesion.
In a statement issued on Monday, Daud faulted Gachagua for what he described as ethnic profiling, saying the former Deputy President made unsubstantiated claims that unfairly targeted the Somali community.
Gachagua recently alleged that fraudsters channelled funds illegally obtained from Minnesota in the United States into Kenya, where the money was allegedly used to construct commercial malls and bankroll political activities. Daud warned that such claims, when framed along ethnic lines, risk reopening old wounds and reigniting tensions in a country that has worked hard to foster peaceful coexistence among its diverse communities.
“These allegations amount to dangerous ethnic profiling and have no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law,” the Wajir East MP said.
Daud argued that the remarks fit into what he described as a long-standing pattern of ethnically charged statements by Gachagua, which he noted culminated in the former Deputy President’s impeachment by both Houses of Parliament in October 2024.
The legislator also recalled earlier comments in which Gachagua allegedly likened the Kenyan government to a shareholding company, suggesting that public appointments and national resources should be distributed based on the perceived electoral “shares” held by different communities. Daud said such thinking alienated large segments of the population and violated the spirit and letter of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
Daud observed that despite his removal from office, Gachagua has continued to advance narratives that undermine social harmony and threaten national cohesion.
He cautioned that singling out the Somali community in allegations involving illicit financial flows could sow unnecessary suspicion and discord among communities that have historically lived and worked together peacefully.
“The Somali and Kikuyu communities, among others, have built strong business ties, mutual respect and shared prosperity across Kenya,” Daud said. “There is no inherent conflict between them, and any attempt to manufacture one only undermines the unity that is the bedrock of our Republic.”
The Wajir East MP stressed that authorities should investigate and prosecute any alleged criminal activity, whether committed locally or abroad, through established legal processes, without generalising blame to entire communities.
He also defended legitimate investments by Kenyans of Somali origin, saying they reflect entrepreneurship and meaningful contributions to national development, not criminality.
Daud called on Gachagua to abandon what he termed a divisive political path and urged all leaders to exercise restraint and responsibility in public discourse. He further appealed to relevant authorities to remain alert to statements that could amount to incitement and threaten peace and stability.
“Kenya belongs to all of us, and we must guard it jealously against those who seek to fracture it for narrow political gain,” he said.
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