Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s recent public criticism of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s political and security landscape. In a rare move, Gachagua openly blamed NIS boss Noordin Haji for failing to adequately brief President William Ruto on the impending mass protests against the Finance Bill 2024, resulting in chaos, loss of lives, and significant property damage.
Gachagua’s comments, made from his residence in Mombasa, were unequivocal.
“I sympathise with my boss President William Ruto because this information was not available to him,” he stated.
According to the Deputy President, the NIS’s failure to inform the President about the intensity of public dissatisfaction led to the unprecedented violence witnessed across the nation.
The Deputy President did not mince words in calling for accountability. He suggested that Noordin Haji should resign, citing a critical oversight that left the President and the government blindsided. “We have a dysfunctional National Intelligence Service that has exposed the President, the government, and the people of Kenya,” Gachagua claimed. This stark accusation points to a significant failure within one of the country’s most critical security institutions.
The Consequences of a Lapse in Intelligence
The events of Tuesday highlighted the severe consequences of the alleged lapse in intelligence. The protests, largely driven by Gen Z, erupted after Parliament passed the contentious Finance Bill 2024. Gachagua emphasized that if the NIS had properly briefed the President on the public sentiment regarding the new taxes, the scale of the protests—and the resulting casualties—could have been avoided.
“Had the National Intelligence Service briefed the President two months ago about how the people feel about the Finance Bill, 2024, so many Kenyans would not have died, property would not have been destroyed, offices would not have been destroyed,” he said.
A Systemic Failure?
The Deputy President’s critique extends beyond a single incident, suggesting a systemic failure within the NIS. Gachagua revealed that senior National Police Service officers admitted they were unprepared for the protests, as they lacked prior intelligence. This unpreparedness, he argued, left the security forces overwhelmed and contributed to the chaos.
Broader Implications for Governance and Security
Gachagua’s statements have broader implications for governance and national security in Kenya. By publicly questioning the efficacy of the NIS, the Deputy President has raised concerns about the overall readiness and responsiveness of the country’s intelligence apparatus. This could lead to a loss of public confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens and maintain order.
Deputy President Gachagua’s public denunciation of the NIS has exposed a critical vulnerability in Kenya’s national security infrastructure. It underscores the importance of timely and accurate intelligence in governance and the potentially devastating consequences when this fails.
