Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of failing to curb political violence, days after his convoy was attacked in Kaptembwa, Nakuru Town West.
Gachagua said the government’s repeated warnings against political goons were nothing more than political rhetoric, accusing President Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of saying one thing while allowing violence to continue.
“When Mr William Ruto and Mr Kipchumba Murkomen said goons would not be allowed anywhere in the country, it was just another lie, the usual lip service and political posturing,” Gachagua said in a statement issued after Friday’s incident.
The former Deputy President claimed the government depended on organised groups to disrupt political opponents, saying there would be no escape for what he described as a “dictatorial regime”.
He alleged that goons organised and paid by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama attacked his convoy at Kaptembwa.
According to Gachagua, the attackers were armed with axes, stones and other crude weapons, while police officers watched as the confrontation unfolded.
“Luckily, wananchi repulsed these thugs and ensured our safety and that of the members of the 4th Estate who were also targeted,” he said.
Gachagua did not provide evidence to support his claim that Kihika and Arama organised or financed the attackers. The allegations also come as political temperatures rise in Nakuru and other parts of the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The former Deputy President accused the administration of resorting to violence because, in his view, it had lost support among Kenyans.
He said the use of goons could damage Kenya’s reputation among tourists, foreign visitors, investors and international dignitaries.
“Kenyans, tourists, all foreigners and international dignitaries in Kenya and investors have to accept that goonism is now a way of life and live with it until the next General Election,” Gachagua said.
He maintained that the political contest should ultimately be settled through the ballot, reiterating his determination to campaign against President Ruto in the 2027 election.
Gachagua also disclosed that his political team had received assurances from supporters in Njoro, Molo and Rongai that they would provide protection during planned public engagements in Nakuru over the weekend.
The statement came after reports that Gachagua’s convoy was attacked during his political activities in Nakuru, with several vehicles reportedly damaged after stones were thrown at them.
The former Deputy President has increasingly positioned himself as one of the leading critics of the Ruto administration since leaving government.
His remarks on Friday are likely to further sharpen the political contest in the Rift Valley, a region that played a crucial role in Ruto’s 2022 presidential victory.
With the 2027 election less than a year away, accusations of political violence and the use of organised groups are expected to remain a major issue as rival camps step up their mobilisation.
Gachagua urged his supporters to remain vigilant, saying the latest incident had demonstrated the need for wananchi to protect political activities as the country heads towards the next election.