Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of deploying criminal gangs alongside police officers to intimidate opponents, escalating an already tense political climate.
In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Gachagua claimed that “goonism has become the operational module” of the government, alleging that criminal groups were working in coordination with the National Police Service to suppress dissent.
“Cornered and loathed by Kenyans for mismanaging the country… William Ruto has sought the services of goons to keep him in power,” Gachagua said.
He further alleged that Kenya’s police deployment to Haiti had been misused as a “benchmarking expedition” to learn how to collaborate with gangs in political operations — a claim likely to deepen scrutiny over the controversial mission.
Gachagua directly accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo of orchestrating the alleged operations, though he did not provide evidence. He also linked National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to efforts to block his planned political rally in Kikuyu constituency.
According to Gachagua, early Saturday morning, groups he described as “goons from Kibra” barricaded roads leading to Kikuyu town, lighting fires, puncturing vehicle tyres and robbing motorists.
“For two hours they terrorised motorists and the police were nowhere to be seen,” he said. “It was ordinary citizens who organised themselves, fought the goons, put out the fires and restored order.”
He claimed police officers only arrived later “pretending to act” after residents had regained control, accusing them of abandoning their constitutional duty to protect citizens.
Gachagua appealed to Inspector General Douglas Kanja not to allow officers to be used for political purposes and urged his supporters to attend his planned rally, insisting it would remain peaceful.
The allegations come amid rising political tensions as rival factions position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections, with Gachagua emerging as a vocal critic of Ruto’s administration following their political fallout.
Police had not immediately responded to the claims by press time, and the government has previously denied accusations of using state machinery to intimidate opponents.
