Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sharply criticized the current Kenyan government, accusing it of treating young people worse than the colonial rulers once did.
He spoke out during a diaspora engagement event in Southern California on Sunday, 10 August 2025, where he described the government elected in August 2022 as violent and oppressive towards Kenya’s youth.
Gachagua revealed that hundreds of young people aged between 14 and 24 have been abducted, tortured, killed, or forcibly disappeared simply because they dared to speak up.
These young people have been calling for good governance, transparency, and accountability, yet the government has responded with brutal force.
“Back home, the government that we elected in August 2022 has turned against our young people with brutal efficiency,” he said.
“Their crime is speaking out for their parents, their siblings, and the Kenyan people.”
He condemned the government for betraying the values it promised when it came to power. It was supposed to respect democracy, the rule of law, and the constitution, but instead, it has attacked its own citizens.
Gachagua made a comparison with the colonial government, pointing out that even under colonial rule, children were never targeted. He said that even during President Moi’s 24 years in power, the government persecuted men but did not harm children or women.
“Brutal as colonial rule was, they never attacked children,” he stated.
“Even during the difficult years of President Moi’s 24-year rule, the government persecuted men but never harmed children or women.”
Gachagua described this situation as unprecedented in Kenya’s history. No other government has turned against children the way this one has. Between 2024 and 2025, many young Kenyans have faced terrible suffering. According to him, hundreds have been abducted and tortured, some killed, others missing, and many wounded and hospitalized with bullet injuries.
His statements show a dark reality where young people, who should be protected and supported as the future of the country, are instead suffering from serious human rights abuses.
The youth have been caught in violence and oppression that threatens their safety and well-being.These serious accusations come at a time when political tensions in Kenya are rising. President William Ruto’s government faces growing pressure from opposition leaders and human rights organizations. Critics say the government’s heavy-handed approach to dealing with dissent is damaging Kenya’s democratic values and harming the country’s social fabric.
Gachagua’s remarks highlight the urgent need for dialogue and reform. They call attention to the plight of the youth and the need to respect their rights.
