Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has criticised Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen over what he termed as selective outrage in their condemnation of recent remarks made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking on K24 TV on May 19, 2025, Gakuya accused the duo of turning a blind eye to equally provocative statements by Kenya Kwanza-allied leaders while subjecting Gachagua to disproportionate public criticism.

“Remember, we have in our domain sentiment made by one Oscar Sudi, stating that Kenya has no experience of a single-term president and saying they will use every means to make sure that they will be in power,” Gakuya noted.

Bias and hypocrisy

He questioned why such remarks had not elicited any censure from senior government officials, yet Gachagua’s comments had sparked official rebuke.

“There is another fellow who said they have an experience of making a president for 24 years. These are inflammatory statements, and they were being made in the presence of the head of state. If those are not cautionary, then you want to use it skewed,” he added.

The legislator took issue with what he perceived as hypocrisy in the government’s reaction, pointing to public criticism by Murkomen and Kindiki as evidence of bias.

“You have seen the CS of interior and the deputy president of this republic of Kenya bringing issues as if something has come from outside the universe,” Gakuya said.

He emphasised that statements made by individuals affiliated with one political faction are often disregarded, while similar comments from others, like Gachagua, provoke strong public and official reactions.

“When this is mentioned elsewhere, it becomes an issue,” he stated.

Call for equal treatment

Gakuya called on leaders to apply equal standards when addressing political rhetoric in the public space, calling for fairness and respect for constitutional freedoms.

“It’s unfortunate, and what I would just address is that let us all know that we are all Kenyans and we are under one roof of the constitution,” he said.

“And if we want to use the best language in public, that’s all of us. But let us not use a skewed way of criticising some, but when another utters, then there is no discretion,” he concluded.

Gachagua warned

His comments come a day after Murkomen publicly warned Gachagua against issuing divisive statements.

Speaking at Nuru Africa Inland Church in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County on May 18, 2025, Murkomen said Gachagua was not above the law, cautioning him of arrest.

“There are people threatening us. They think they are above the law (and) cannot be arrested and that they cannot be jailed. I am going to tell you under our watch, this country is not going to condone anybody who wants to burn this nation,” he stated.

“We are going to do everything under the sun to make sure that for the period we serve this nation, we are going to make this country safe,” he added.