‪Why Are You Afraid Of Death, You Will Die One Day, Gachagua Warns Ruto Against Abducting Those Putting Him In Coffins‬

In a pointed critique, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has spoken out against President William Ruto’s response to AI-generated images showing him in a coffin. Addressing a congregation at AIPCA in Dandora, Gachagua called for a more measured reaction to such satirical content.

Gachagua labeled the images as inconsequential, emphasizing that they should not lead to drastic actions like the abduction or killing of children who share them online. He stated, “There is no need to harm children just because they posted a photo of you in a coffin. This isn’t a reason to abduct or kill them. God will place you where you belong when the time comes.”

He further elaborated in Swahili, “Hakuna haja ya kuuwa watoto ati kwa sababu wameweka picha yako kwenye jeneza. Hii si sababu ya kuwachukua au kuwaua. Mungu atakuweka mahali pako siku ikifika.” “Let’s not hurt our children or abduct them over mere caricatures. They are just playing with their phones.”

The ex-Deputy President also touched on the broader issue of moral leadership, criticizing Ruto for allowing offensive rhetoric from his political allies without censure. He specifically called out MP Farah Maalim for his recent disparaging comments towards those advocating for the President’s resignation.

“Which is worse, being depicted in a coffin or Maalim’s insults? Isn’t it the latter from the honorable member?” Gachagua questioned, highlighting the inconsistency in handling public criticism.

He also challenged Ruto’s apparent fear of death, saying, “This fear of being in a coffin, how scared of death are you? We all will die one day. You’re making too much fuss over these images, but even in a coffin, you’re not dead yet. Death is natural, it will come. It’s a part of life.”

Turning to accusations of hypocrisy, Gachagua reminded the President of his own history of inflammatory comments against former leaders, stating, “This culture of insults began with you, so don’t complain now. You called Uhuru Kenyatta a drunkard and Raila Odinga a witch.”

Gachagua’s remarks suggest that Ruto and his allies have set a precedent for incitement through insults and should not now bemoan receiving similar treatment in return. His comments have sparked debate on political decorum and the handling of public dissent in Kenya.