Please forgive me, my boss," Rigathi Gachagua says to William Ruto

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will address the nation today at 5:30 PM from his residence in Kizingo, Mombasa, according to an urgent press invite from his office. This announcement comes as President William Ruto is set to speak to the country from Nairobi at 4 PM. Both addresses follow significant concerns over a police crackdown on youths in Githurai, Nairobi. Earlier, during a conference for school principals, Gachagua honored those who lost their lives, including police officers, during the protests. He avoided political discussions, particularly regarding the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which has led to nationwide unrest and fatalities. Instead, he asked the over 8,000 secondary school principals at the 47th Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) annual conference in Mombasa to observe a moment of silence for the victims. “I request all of you to stand for a minute in honor of our children and security officers who lost their lives in yesterday’s protests and chaos across the country,” Gachagua said. At least 25 people have reportedly died due to clashes between police and protesters in major towns, with Nairobi experiencing the highest fatalities, where around 20 individuals were shot after overwhelming police and entering Parliament. Additionally, three deaths have been reported in Mombasa. Gachagua arrived in Mombasa just a day after the nationwide anti-Finance Bill protests.