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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again locked horns with the National Intelligence Service (NIS), accusing the agency of wasting resources on unnecessary surveillance. His allegations have sparked fresh debate over the use of intelligence resources and their prioritization in addressing pressing security issues.
On Thursday, December 19, 2024, Gachagua claimed that an NIS officer tailed him during a recent visit to Kalawa Ward in Mbooni Constituency, Makueni County. According to him, the officer trailed his convoy all the way from Nairobi. He went further to share photos of both the officer and the vehicle purportedly used in the operation, expressing his discontent over what he termed as a “misuse of public resources.”
“It was pointless to waste fuel and man-hours having him follow us all the way from Nairobi to Makueni yesterday,” Gachagua said. He urged the NIS to channel its resources toward strengthening national security instead of monitoring politicians. “National Intelligence Service, please deploy this vehicle and this officer to do some useful work to enhance our security as a nation.”
The confrontation between Gachagua and the NIS is not new. His strained relationship with the agency dates back to earlier controversies, where he repeatedly accused the institution of inefficiency and political interference. In June 2024, Gachagua publicly demanded the resignation of NIS Director General Noordin Haji, blaming him for the agency’s alleged failure to foresee the violent protests that erupted after the introduction of the Finance Bill 2024. The demonstrations, which swept across the country, resulted in significant loss of life and property damage. Gachagua argued that with better intelligence, the unrest could have been mitigated.
In October 2024, the former Deputy President continued his public criticism of the NIS, asserting that his actions were in the interest of accountability. He defended his sharp critique of Director General Haji, and said there’s a need to hold public officials to account to ensure efficiency in their roles. “Scrutiny is not an attack; it’s a necessary tool to enhance performance,” he stated at the time.
The NIS has yet to respond to the latest allegations.
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