Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made explosive allegations against senior security officials, claiming that a special police unit he describes as a "killer squad" has been deployed to target political opponents and businesses linked to his allies.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Gachagua alleged that a group of police officers operating under the code name "Nairobi Sierra" had been dispatched to the home of Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi in Gatura, Nyeri County, ahead of an alleged operation in Karatina town.
According to Gachagua, the same team of officers had earlier, in January this year, been involved in an operation at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, where he claims he was the intended target. He alleged that the officers, armed with guns and tear gas, stormed the church during a service, causing panic among congregants, including women and children.
"Their mission aborted, but the faithful cried tears and blood out," Gachagua said in his statement.
The former Deputy President further alleged that the officers were positively identified after the January incident and had been recommended for prosecution. Instead, he claimed, they were promoted and assigned duties involving the coordination of attacks against individuals perceived to be opposed to President William Ruto's administration.
He accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat of overseeing or facilitating the alleged operations. However, Gachagua did not provide evidence to support his claims.
The former Deputy President expressed fears that the officers could proceed to his Wamunyoro residence to "complete the job they failed to do in January."
"In whatever situation, God is in control. God bless and protect Kenyans," he stated.
The allegations come at a time of heightened political tensions in the country, with divisions widening between Gachagua and President Ruto's administration following the former Deputy President's impeachment and subsequent fallout with the Kenya Kwanza government.
Security agencies had not immediately responded to the claims by the time of publication. Similarly, there was no immediate comment from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen or Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat regarding the allegations.
The claims are likely to intensify the ongoing debate over police accountability and the alleged use of security agencies in political contests. They also add a fresh layer of tension in Nyeri County, a region that has increasingly become a political battleground as rival camps seek to consolidate support ahead of future political realignments.
Political analysts say the allegations, if substantiated, would raise serious concerns about the neutrality of security institutions and the safety of political actors and ordinary citizens. They have called for independent investigations into the claims to establish the facts and reassure the public that security agencies are operating within the confines of the law.
