A section of religious leaders in Mombasa has condemned recent remarks made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking at a press briefing in Mombasa, Pwani Patriotic Religious Leaders (PPRL), led by their Chair Sheikh Abu Qatada Salim, the leaders warned that the ‘the 2007 violence will look like Christmas festivities compared to 2027’, allegedly made by the former DP posed a grave threat to Kenya’s peace and democratic stability ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“This is terrifying and a serious threat to our national security. We vividly remember what happened in 2007; over 1,300 people were killed, more than 600,000 displaced, churches were burned, women raped, and the country plunged into darkness and pain,” said Sheikh Abuqatada, Chairperson of the PPRL.
The religious leaders called the comparison “a great shame” for someone who once held the second-highest office in the land and emphasized that peace is a collective national treasure that must be protected at all costs.
They warned that using fear as a political tool is both immoral and dangerous.
“As religious leaders, our core duty is to nurture peace. Inflammatory speech threatens the country’s stability and must be condemned in both word and deed,” said the religious leaders.
PPRL also called for respect for constitutional bodies such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), warning that undermining public institutions erodes public trust and could destabilize the nation.
“Political opposition must never be weaponized to intimidate or discredit public servants. The future of our nation cannot be jeopardized by the reckless words of a few,” they warned.
The group has called on national security agencies, including the police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to investigate and take decisive action against any individuals who make statements that endanger the nation’s peace.
“No one is above the law, and no political ambition justifies the shedding of Kenyan blood,” they asserted.
