Former Attorney General Justin Muturi has criticised President William Ruto over remarks linking his former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua to murder, saying such serious allegations should not be made at political rallies but pursued through the law if evidence exists.
Speaking on Capital FM’s Breakfast Show, Muturi described the President’s comments as “reckless and unworthy of the office,” noting that a Head of State with credible information on a criminal matter should pursue legal action rather than make public accusations.
“If he has this information and he is the Head of State, what are those villages in Chwele going to help him? Just enforce the law,” Muturi said, referring to Ruto’s comments in Western Kenya on Tuesday.
Muturi argued that making such claims publicly without legal proceedings undermines due process and risks turning serious criminal allegations into political theatre. He also noted that the President had previously indicated directing prosecutions in other matters, including the Nairobi Hospital board case.
Muturi suggested that the comments appeared politically motivated, insisting that murder allegations should be handled independently by investigative and prosecutorial agencies.
The remarks followed President Ruto’s statement on Tuesday during a Western Kenya tour, linking Gachagua to the murder of a young woman in Nyeri, which escalated political tensions between the two leaders.
Gachagua has dismissed the claims, accusing the President of abandoning the dignity of his office. “He is no longer presidential. He is picking issues written by bloggers. He has stopped speaking about development issues and he is now speaking about women, girls, and such,” Gachagua said.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), associated with Gachagua, also refuted the claims, stating that the party leader’s aide, the late Maureen Gathigia Kinyua, died in a road accident, not murder.
“Investigations into the incident classified it as a hit-and-run, and there is no official evidence linking her death to murder or foul play,” the party said, adding that misinformation online was causing unnecessary distress to her family, friends, and supporters.
The President’s comments have sparked widespread online criticism, with Kenyans urging political leaders to reduce inflammatory rhetoric and avoid turning sensitive issues into political attacks.
