GACHAGUA DISMISSES POLICE STATION ARSON AS 'LIES' AMID RISING UNREST

Amid the growing unrest, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out strongly to dismiss reports that police stations were set ablaze in Kikuyu on June 25. Addressing the claims, Gachagua said:

“Those police stations that I hear were burned down in Kikuyu are lies. Who can attack a police station?”

His remarks appear aimed at downplaying the extent of the chaos in Central Kenya—a region considered a traditional political stronghold for the ruling coalition. The comments also reflect the government's broader strategy to control the narrative, even as citizen videos and eyewitness reports continue to emerge from across the country documenting violent crackdowns and widespread unrest.

Despite Gachagua’s dismissal, demonstrators and human rights groups have raised alarm over what they describe as a state-sponsored clampdown on dissent. Several protesters have been reportedly abducted, injured, or killed by police in incidents that have intensified public outrage.

The protests have drawn in a wide spectrum of voices—students, professionals, clergy, and civil society leaders—all united in their demand for a more accountable and transparent government. What began as a response to unpopular tax proposals has now transformed into a broader struggle over governance and democratic rights in Kenya.

As pressure mounts on President William Ruto’s administration, observers warn that how the government handles the next few days may shape the country's political trajectory for years to come.