Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hit back at the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after he threatened to mobilise residents of Meru North to arm themselves and fight cattle rustlers.

According to a post on his X account on Monday, March 23, 2026, Kindiki dismissed Gachagua’s threats, saying banditry in the region has persisted for over a decade.

Kindiki claimed that the insecurity in Meru North intensified when some of Gachagua’s allies were in charge of national security.

“”Wa Mitego, I hear you have given me 10 days to address banditry in Meru North, or else you will go there to incite the public to arm themselves and fight cattle rustlers. For your information, banditry in Meru North has been there for more than 10 years, and it became worse when some of the friends you are now frolicking with were in charge of national security,” Kindiki wrote.

Where were you?

Kindiki noted that during his tenure as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, he spent months in that region and the neighbouring counties coordinating security formations to crush bandit networks.

He challenged Gachagua’s track record, pointing out that despite holding high office in the past, Gachagua allegedly failed to visit the region or initiate any development projects.

“You offered no support despite the high office you held then, not even a visit to Meru North to show solidarity with the people you now seem to have so much concern for,” Kindiki noted.

Kindiki confirmed that bandit attacks have spiked over the last two weeks, resulting in a devastating loss of life and livestock. However, he maintained that the government’s response would be driven by its constitutional duty to protect citizens, rather than political pressure.

Government’s efforts

He said that the government has a duty to protect the people of Kenya and their property.

“Bandit attacks have resumed over the last two weeks, with devastating loss of life and livestock. The government will crush the criminals, like we did in 2023-2024. To your shock and dismay, we will succeed. We are not acting because of your empty and childish threats and ultimatums, but because the government has a duty to protect the people of Kenya and their property,” Kindiki noted.

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, during a church service, Gachagua gave DP Kindiki and the government a 10-day ultimatum to deploy security in Meru, Isiolo, and Samburu counties to deal with the bandits in the area.

Gachagua said that failure to do so, he would personally move to Meru North and mobilize the locals to arm and defend themselves from the bandits.

“It will be irresponsible of me to keep quiet anymore. I am giving the government of William Ruto and Kindiki ten days to deploy security along the border, along with Samburu and Isiolo, to protect the people of Meru from cattle rustling.

“If they don’t do so, I will have no choice but to personally move to the border and mobilize the people of Meru to arm themselves and defend themselves and their livestock,” said Gachagua.