Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Saturday July 18 challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to present to the police the 68 women he claimed were violated by security officers during the Ol Kalou by-election.
Mr Gachagua claimed on Friday, at a press conference in Ol Kalou Constituency, that the women were allegedly sexually assaulted by police officers following the chaos that erupted during the by-election.
The Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader alleged that President William Ruto, Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja and Mr Murkomen were aware of and approved the terror allegedly unleashed on residents by hooded gunmen, some of whom he claimed were police officers.
On Saturday, Mr Murkomen hit out at Mr Gachagua, accusing him of seeking cheap political mileage by making false claims about an incident that did not occur.
"I wish to tell Mr Gachagua that if you are a father and a husband, you should not play politics with women by making such claims," Mr Murkomen said.
The CS added: "I dare him (Gachagua) to take the women he claims were victims of rape to the nearest police station so that action can be taken. We would not condone violence, especially women being subjected to gender-based violence."
"Even in your win (DCP's victory in Ol Kalou), he (Gachagua) is a terrible loser for using women as objects for political gain," Mr Murkomen said.
Mr Murkomen added: "This (Ol Kalou) by-election is not the first election in the country. Winning one by-election should not make us reckless. This was not a national crisis, and we should not use it to propagate tribalism and hatred."
"This was not about tribes but the triumph of democracy, and the candidate whom the people wanted was elected. The MP-elect will serve all the people equally," he said.
Mr Murkomen was speaking during the prize-giving day at Tenwek Boys' High School in Bomet County on Saturday.
CS Murkomen hit out at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for allegedly making claims that 68 women were raped by police officers in Ol Kalou by-election.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation
The CS said the Ministry of Interior had dealt with goons in the past and would continue to do so in future, urging Kenyans not to worry about their security as the country heads towards the next General Election.
Last year, he said, police arrested 3,000 suspected goons and charged them in court, but they were later released.
"A few incidents that were witnessed cannot override the general tranquillity witnessed in the country. We have dealt with general insecurity and banditry in the country. Incidents involving the murder of children and women have also been addressed," Mr Murkomen said.
The CS said the outcome of the Ol Kalou by-election, in which Sammy Waweru Ngotho emerged victorious, was clear evidence of Kenya's democratic credentials and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) ability to conduct a free and fair election.
"We are doing everything we can in the security sector to ensure Kenyans are safe. The isolated cases of insecurity in Ol Kalou should not be used to portray the security sector as incapable of dealing with goons," Mr Murkomen said.
He reiterated that more than 1,000 police officers had been deployed to Ol Kalou and said they had done a fairly good job of maintaining security.
Mr Murkomen's remarks came despite reports that goons travelling in sports utility vehicles (SUVs) terrorised residents, attacked journalists and confiscated their equipment, including cameras and mobile phones.
The hooded men, wearing balaclavas, allegedly fired live ammunition at residents and lobbed tear gas canisters at them while voters were at polling stations on Thursday afternoon, drawing condemnation from across the political divide.
Mr Gachagua has repeatedly criticised the government, particularly President William Ruto, in recent months as political tensions continue to build ahead of the next General Election.
In the Tenwek function, Mr Murkomen was accompanied by Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus Ngeno, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, nominated Senator Joyce Korir, Bomet Woman Representative Joyce Korir and Bomet Central MP Richard Kilel.
