Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of undermining Kenya's security institutions by making what he described as false and politically motivated claims about the country's intelligence agencies, warning that national security should never be turned into a political tool.
Speaking during a Sunday service at ACK St. Stephen's Chepkoilel in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Murkomen said Kenya remains secure and blamed a section of politicians for attempting to create fear by making unverified claims about the country's security situation.
"The safety and the security of the people of Kenya cannot be used to do politics. Let me repeat that. I want to warn all politicians, whether you are in opposition or you are in government, the safety and the security of the people of Kenya is not one of the agendas that you are going to use to play politics," Murkomen said.
Without mentioning Gachagua by name initially, the Interior CS accused some political leaders of promoting tribal politics and spreading rumours about the country's security agencies.
He later launched a direct attack on the former deputy president, describing him as the "most irresponsible leader" to have occupied high office in Kenya.
"This is the first time in the history of Kenya since 1963 that we have had the most irresponsible leader who has occupied the highest office in the land," Murkomen said.
He contrasted Gachagua's conduct with that of other former senior government officials, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, saying they had handled security matters more responsibly.
"The way you are doing politics with our security systems, doing politics with our security officers, we want to tell you shame on you. And we are not going to allow you to continue saying things that are not true," he added.
Murkomen also dismissed Gachagua's recent claims that he receives privileged intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other state agencies.
Referring to Gachagua's assertion that President William Ruto would unveil a "Vision 2060" development blueprint before the Head of State's State of the Nation Address, Murkomen insisted the former deputy president had no inside knowledge.
"Someone wants to lie to the people of Kenya... just because he wants to appear as if he is running some clandestine security sector. I want to tell the people of Kenya that man is a conman. Please don't follow the things he says," Murkomen said.
His remarks come days after Gachagua publicly explained how he gathers information on government affairs during a podcast interview with political analyst Herman Manyora.
The former deputy president claimed he relies on a network of informants drawn from across the public service, including civil servants, police officers, National Intelligence Service officers and employees of state corporations, while insisting he only shares information after extensive verification.
"I have asked civil servants, police officers, National Intelligence Service officers and people working in parastatals to preserve my credibility by giving me information that is verifiable," Gachagua said.
He added that he carefully cross-checks every claim before making it public.
"I also have a lot of information and I sometimes don't rush into it. I do a lot of cross-checking because the day I mislead Kenyans, I'll lose my credibility," he said.
Gachagua cited his prediction that President Ruto would announce a new long-term development blueprint during the State of the Nation Address as evidence that his information network is reliable. He also maintained that he discloses information in what he considers to be the public interest.
"If you give me information, it will be in the public domain within a short time. I will not use it to extort money or blackmail anybody," Gachagua said.
Murkomen, however, insisted that political leaders should refrain from dragging Kenya's security agencies into political contests, saying matters of national security must remain above partisan politics.