Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has made explosive allegations linking senior government officials to the abduction of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.
In a statement directed at Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Gachagua questioned the credibility of the investigation ordered into Kiprotich’s abduction, claiming that the operation was conducted by officers outside the police chief’s command.
“You are clueless about the operations of the National Police Service. I do have more information as to the happenings in the Service than you do,” Gachagua said.
He alleged that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo had taken control of operations within the National Police Service with the alleged concurrence of President William Ruto.
“The National Police Service was taken over a long time ago by Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen and Mr. Raymond Omollo, with the concurrence of Mr. William Ruto,” he claimed.
Gachagua further alleged that orders were being issued directly to Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lang’at and Directorate of Criminal Investigations Director Mohamed Amin.
The DCP leader claimed Kiprotich had been preparing an investigative report on the compensation of Mau Forest evictees from the Kipsigis community before his abduction.
According to Gachagua, the journalist was preparing to publish an exposé detailing alleged irregularities in the compensation funds paid to thousands of evictees.
“Alex was to publish an exposé giving a blow-by-blow account of how the funds have been stolen, leaving the evictees helpless and in anguish,” he alleged.
Gachagua claimed a late-night meeting between President Ruto and Murkomen on Monday preceded a decision to stop Kiprotich from publishing the report.
He further alleged that Amin ordered 24-hour surveillance of the journalist and assembled a team led by Zachary Kariuki, whom he described as a retired officer recalled to coordinate a squad allegedly involved in abductions, killings and cover-ups.
“This is the team that abducted Alex Kiprotich and was instructed to abandon the earlier plan to eliminate him after the abduction was captured live and provoked public outrage,” Gachagua alleged.
Kiprotich was reportedly abducted by armed, masked men along the Gilgil-Nakuru route before being found safe near Masinga Dam in Machakos County hours later.
Gachagua also linked the alleged squad to other unresolved incidents, including the reported abduction of businessman Jimmy in Mlolongo and the death of Rachel Wandeto.
He challenged Kanja to release findings from investigations into Wandeto’s death, attacks on Witima ACK Church, Mwiki PCEA Church and Kariobangi PCEA Church, as well as violence witnessed during the Ol Kalou by-election.
“You have no report to release because no investigations were carried out, and none will be carried out. You cannot investigate your seniors, and police cannot investigate themselves,” he said.
Gachagua’s remarks are likely to increase political pressure on the National Police Service as investigations into Kiprotich’s abduction continue.
The allegations against President Ruto, Murkomen, Omollo, Amin, Lang’at and the other individuals named by Gachagua have not been independently established.
The National Police Service has denied involvement in Kiprotich’s abduction and maintained that investigations will establish what happened.