Kenya Kwanza Leaders Condemn Gachagua Over Alleged Anti-Muslim Remarks

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki joins leaders in Mombasa for a unity and empowerment rally at Tononoka Grounds on August 10, 2025.

Senior Kenya Kwanza leaders have slammed remarks allegedly made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, which they say targeted Kenya’s Muslim community. Speaking during an empowerment event at the Tononoka Grounds in Mombasa on Sunday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called the comments “indecent politics” and urged leaders to embrace unity.

Without mentioning Gachagua by name, Kindiki warned against any rhetoric that could link specific communities to terrorism or crime, saying such statements were “unacceptable” in a country that has made significant progress in inclusivity.

“Kenya is one nation. Communities that were once sidelined, including our Muslim brothers and sisters, are now in government and contributing to decision-making. We will not allow divisive politics to take us backwards,” Kindiki said.

Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe also criticized the alleged remarks, warning they could damage Kenya’s reputation abroad and hurt key sectors such as tourism. He accused Gachagua, popularly known as “Wamunyoro,” of undermining the country’s image by portraying certain communities as security threats.

“If leaders speak carelessly, we risk losing international goodwill and tourism investment. This is not leadership,” Mugabe told the gathering.

The statements come amid growing political isolation for Gachagua, who has in recent months faced public rebuke from Kenya Kwanza allies over rhetoric they describe as divisive and retrogressive. Several leaders have urged him to focus on uniting Kenyans rather than sowing ethnic or religious discord.

Sunday’s event, attended by local leaders and hundreds of residents, ended with a renewed call for political tolerance and national cohesion ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Mombasa, Kenya – August 12, 2025