Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has set the record straight on why he withdrew Kisii Governor Simba Arati’s security during the opposition’s anti-government protests.

While addressing a congregation at Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High School in Kisii County on Saturday, December 16, 2023, Gachagua said he issued orders to withdraw the governor’s security because their lives were at risk.

While insisting that he had the moral authority to make the move, the DP claimed that no security detail should risk their lives counteracting fellow officers during protests.

He also reiterated that governors and government officials should behave to get police protection.

“Si rais alitoa askari yako, mimi ndio nilikua nimetoa kwa sababu ya mambo kidogo tu. Askari kazi yake ni kusimamisha maandamano, sasa wewe ukichukua askari upeleke maandamano si wataumizana? Tulisema vile maandamano inaendelea na nyinyi mnapeleka askari kwa maandamano wale wa maandamano wapumzike kidogo maandamano iishe, saile maandamano imeisha tumekurudishia askari,” DP Gachagua said.

Loosely translates to:

“I withdrew your security because the function of officers is to quell protests. If you decide to use your security to counteract other officers don’t you think they will hurt each other?”

The DP further advised Arati to refrain from participating in the opposition’s protests assuring him that the government would withdraw his security again should he be caught taking part in the protests.

“Lakini mkirudi tena kuandamana na askari wetu tutawatoa kwa sababu askari hawezi kubaliwa kuumizana na askari mwenzake. Hawa wako wangeumizwa na wale wa GSU na hatutaki waumie,” the DP added.

Loosely translates to:

“If you recall protests using our officers we will withdraw your security because we can not allow officers to hurt each other. GSU would have injured your security.”

Gachagua’s sentiments come months after the two leaders exchanged words over the matter.

At the time, DP Gachagua advised governors whose security detail had been withdrawn to behave themselves to get their security reinstated.

But in his response, Arati, whose security was withdrawn on July 18, called out the DP saying he would not behave any time to please the DP and stood firm that he was going to serve his people.

“He has said governors must behave to get police protection. I do not need police officers. I am not going to behave anytime to please the Deputy President. I am going to do what these people have sent me to do,” Arati said On September 21, 2023.