Wajir East Member of Parliament Aden Daud has condemned recent statements by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, describing them as reckless, divisive, and a threat to Kenya’s national cohesion.
In a statement issued on Monday, Daud accused Gachagua of engaging in ethnic profiling by making unverified claims against the Somali community. The former Deputy President had alleged that funds fraudulently obtained from Minnesota in the United States were channeled into Kenya to finance commercial malls and political activities.
“These allegations amount to dangerous ethnic profiling and have no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law,” Daud said, warning that such claims could reignite ethnic tensions in a country that has made significant progress toward peaceful coexistence.
The Wajir East MP noted that Gachagua’s rhetoric reflects a long-standing pattern of ethnically charged statements, which culminated in his impeachment by both Houses of Parliament in October 2024. Daud also recalled previous comments in which Gachagua likened government appointments and resource allocation to a shareholding system, a notion that undermined social cohesion and contravened the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
“Singling out the Somali community in allegations of illicit financial flows risks sowing unnecessary discord among communities that have historically coexisted peacefully,” Daud said. He emphasised that the Somali and Kikuyu communities, among others, have built strong business ties, mutual respect, and shared prosperity across Kenya.
The legislator stressed that any alleged criminal activity, whether local or international, should be investigated through proper legal channels without implicating entire communities. He also defended legitimate Somali-owned investments in Kenya, noting that they represent entrepreneurship and contribute to national development rather than wrongdoing.
Daud urged Gachagua to abandon his divisive rhetoric and called on all leaders to exercise responsibility in public discourse. He also appealed to authorities to monitor statements that could incite unrest or threaten peace.
“Kenya belongs to all of us, and we must guard it jealously against those who seek to fracture it for narrow political gain,” he concluded.
