Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo of taking control of the National Police Service, in a fresh political attack on the Ruto administration over rising concerns about abductions and insecurity.
Gachagua made the allegations while responding to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s decision to order investigations into the abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.
He accused Kanja of lacking control over the police service, claiming that Murkomen and Omollo had taken over its operations with the concurrence of President William Ruto.
“You are clueless about the operations of the National Police Service,” Gachagua said.
He claimed that orders were being issued directly to Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat and Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin.
The allegations, if established, would raise serious questions about the constitutional independence of the Inspector General and the chain of command within the National Police Service.
Gachagua also dismissed the investigation into Kiprotich’s abduction, arguing that it would not produce results because the officers investigating the incident were themselves part of the police service.
His remarks come amid growing public concern over abductions, disappearances and the presence of armed groups and political goons in different parts of the country.
Kiprotich was abducted by armed men before being found safe hours later. His case has attracted widespread condemnation from media organisations, political leaders and civil society groups.
Gachagua alleged that the journalist had been preparing an investigative report on alleged corruption involving compensation paid to Mau Forest evictees.
He claimed the journalist had been placed under surveillance and alleged that a specialised team within the security establishment was involved in his abduction.
The claims have not been independently verified.
But Gachagua has used the incident to broaden his attack on the government, questioning whether the police service is operating independently or under political direction.
He also challenged Kanja to release findings from previous investigations into several controversial incidents, including the death of Rachel Wandeto and attacks on churches and other locations.
Gachagua accused the Independent Policing Oversight Authority of failing to hold security officers accountable and claimed that previous investigations had not produced publicly available findings.
Gachagua also challenged Kanja to make public the findings of previous investigations into alleged killings and abductions, including the death of Rachel Wandeto and incidents at churches in Mwiki, Kariobangi and Ol Kalou.
He further claimed that police operations were being directed by Murkomen and Omollo, with orders passed to Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat and DCI director Mohamed Amin.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and neither Murkomen, Omollo nor the police leadership had responded to Gachagua's claims by the time of publication.
