Former Deputy President and Deputy Commanding Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused the National Police Service of succumbing to political influence, raising concerns over alleged interference in public meetings in Nakuru County.
In a statement addressed to Inspector-General Douglas Kanja, Gachagua questioned the police service’s neutrality, claiming that his entourage was blocked from entering Nakuru County while preparing to address supporters at Kinamba Trading Center in Naivasha.
The incident, he says, involved masked officers in four police Land Cruisers under the command of Naivasha OCPD Wilson Sigei, who allegedly harassed members of the public for over an hour before withdrawing after a crowd demanded access.
Gachagua recalled meeting IG Kanja on January 30, 2026, alongside other national leaders, where the Inspector-General assured them that the police service was apolitical and committed to upholding constitutional guarantees on freedom of movement and assembly.
“We doubted your assurances but gave you the benefit of doubt,” Gachagua noted, arguing that the events in Nakuru show otherwise.
He specifically raised concerns about Nakuru County, claiming that police command there had been “surrendered” to individuals linked to political figures and business interests, including a partner associated with Deputy President William Ruto, involved in the importation of duty-free sugar and rice.
“Sure as December 25th is Christmas, you seem to have no authority of police in Nakuru county,” he said.
The former deputy president also referenced prior incidents in Mai Mahiu and Naivasha on March 29, 2025, where police allegedly disrupted DCP meetings.
He added that junior police officers have reportedly voiced frustration over being misused for political purposes while crime rises in Naivasha Sub-County.
Gachagua has called on IG Kanja to publicly clarify why he appears to have ceded operational control of the National Police Service in Nakuru County to politically connected individuals, warning that such actions undermine the constitutional mandate and the public’s trust in the police.
The allegations come at a sensitive time as political tensions rise ahead of upcoming elections, highlighting ongoing concerns over the role of security agencies in Kenya’s political landscape.