"He Should Spare Us From His Crocodile Tears" Makau Mutua Lectures Gachagua Over His Latest Remarks

Prof Makau Mutua has sharply criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent claims to champion the Somali community in Kenya. 

In a post on X on February 7, 2026, Mutua dismissed Gachagua's advocacy as insincere, urging no intelligent person to take him seriously when he positions himself as a defender of the Somali "hoi polloi."

Mutua accused Gachagua of shedding "fake crocodile tears" and questioned the sudden shift in his stance. 

He asked since when Gachagua discovered that Somalis are full citizens of Kenya with equal "shares" in what he has called "Kenya Inc." 

Mutua argued that Gachagua, often referred to as Wamunyoro, is exploiting the historical marginalization and plight of Somalis in North Eastern Kenya merely to attack their leaders who align with President William Ruto. 

He suggested that such concern would vanish if those leaders supported Gachagua's side instead.

The law professor emphasized that Gachagua lacks credibility on the issue, pointing to a pattern of past remarks perceived as profiling or divisive toward the Somali community. 

Mutua warned against allowing manipulation by what he called a cynical and hypocritical figure, insisting that Somalis possess their own agency, intelligence, and voices to address governance, corruption, and maladministration in their region without external patronage. 

He urged treating Gachagua with the contempt he deserves and referenced Gachagua's earlier views that prioritize people from the Mountain region.

This critique follows Gachagua's statements highlighting suffering in North Eastern Kenya due to drought, neglect, and alleged misuse of devolved funds by local leaders. 

Gachagua has called for accountability, humanitarian aid, and government intervention, while distancing himself from accusations of ethnic bias. 

However, North Eastern politicians and elders have condemned some of his comments as promoting profiling and division.

The exchange highlights deepening political rivalries, with Mutua, a senior advisor to President Ruto on constitutional affairs, defending the Somali community's autonomy against opportunistic interventions amid ongoing debates on regional development, equity, and national unity.