Former Gachagua’s advisor asks him to apologise over 2007 violence remarks
Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, who served as a political advisor and communications strategist at the office of the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has turned the heat on the former second-in-command.
In a video statement on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Ngunjiri advised his former boss to apologise and withdraw his 2007 post-election violence. Gachagua’s former aide argued that no explanation would justify what the second deputy president said regarding post-election violence.
He made it clear that with his huge and influential status in Kenyan politics, he needed to measure his words not to set up a country for skirmishes.
“Gachagua should never had made a statement like that. Nowhere on earth would you associate what happened in 2007 to a Christmas party. To now come and explain that if IEBC misbehaves, that this would happen, it is even worse.
“Gachagua has a lot of influence in our political discourse. That influence comes with responsibility and accountability. We have had the opportunity to work with you, it is a privilege, but that does not mean we are not going to hold you accountable if you make mistakes,” the former Gachagua’s aide stated.
“That statement was a mistake, and if you ask me, stop trying to explain it; just apologise and withdraw that statement,” he advised his former boss.
Condemns justifiers
Ngunjiri, who recently broke ranks with Gachagua, further reprimanded political leaders backing Gachagua over the statement, indicating that they were misleading the former DP.
He vowed to stake his career to fight any political leaders who preach violence ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Those who know me will tell you that my political career is a product of the 2007 post-election violence (PEV). The thought of a possible repeat-for whatever reason-is something I am willing to stake that career on to fight back against anyone who imagines they can take us back there, 20 years later. Meanwhile, to those trying to justify Gachagua’s statement that “2007 looked like a Christmas party,” please tell me: who determines whether an election has been stolen? At what point? How? After how many deaths?,” he posed.
Gachagua’s controversial remarks
The former DP made the controversial remarks during an interview on Friday, May 16, 2025, when he appeared to claim any discrepancies in the upcoming polls would plunge the country into chaos. The former DP went a step further by describing the 2007 post-poll chaos as a ‘Christmas Party’.
“With the mood in the country, if the IEBC tries to mess with the elections, there will be no country here. I want to tell you, 2007 will look like a Christmas party,” Gachagua said.
He, however, came out to clarify the statement, insisting that it was taken out of context.
“They are trying to change the context of what I said. I never said there would be unrest ,” Gachagua stated in his clarification. “All I said is I listened to Kenyans, and they are saying the President and IEBC should not rig elections.”
