Post-election violence remark reckless, Mudavadi calls out Gachagua

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against reopening wounds of the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

Mudavadi termed such political rhetoric as “irresponsible,” adding that it risked pushing the country to the precipice when the nation desires unity.

“How somebody who has had the privilege of rising to the position of deputy president can want to take us back to that episode is completely out of line, and out of order,” he said. 

“Don’t seek votes by threatening people, but by selling your policies. Tribalism won’t take this country anywhere.”

According to Mudavadi, the former DP and politicians allied to him have adopted a political ideology that stands in the way of peaceful co-existence, which was restored following negotiations led by the late Kofi Annan and involving prominent African leaders such as Graca Machel and former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa.

“I was in Serena with President Ruto and others. We negotiated the peace that came after the post-election violence for 42 days,” said Mudavadi.

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He spoke in Kakamega County while attending the funeral of Mzee William Lumati, the father of Benard Chitunga, who was recently appointed as the Cooperative University Vice Chancellor.

The Waki Commission, which was set up to investigate the 2007/08 violence, estimated a death toll of over 1,000 people, while hundreds of thousands of others were internally displaced.

Gachagua has found himself in the eye of a storm after he warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) against bungling the 2027 elections, saying that such interference risks resulting in a repeat of the events of 2007.

However, the former deputy president has defended his contentious statement, claiming that it was taken out of context.

“About my statement on PEV, this was a precautionary statement and not incitement. It is based on historical facts and past electoral experiences of the 1992, 1997 and 2007 controversial election results. We must have free and fair elections in 2027."