Gachagua Allies’ Gilgil Rally Thrown Into Chaos as Police Fire Teargas, One Injured
A peaceful rally in Gilgil turned violent on Saturday after police officers fired teargas at a gathering led by allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The rally, spearheaded by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, ended abruptly after officers stormed the venue, lobbing teargas canisters and scattering the crowd. Chaos erupted instantly, leading to running battles between the police and furious residents.
One man sustained a serious leg injury during the confrontation. In distressing footage seen by Kenyans.co.ke, he sat helplessly on the ground, clutching his bleeding leg.
“Why use violence on innocent citizens? This is not democracy!” an emotional eyewitness shouted as sirens blared in the background.
Scenes of anger quickly spread across social media. Images captured police officers clashing with locals, who responded by hurling stones. Smoke from teargas clouded the air while cries of fear and confusion filled the town.
The motive behind the crackdown remains unclear. However, the opposition wasted no time in reacting to what they described as a shameful abuse of power.
In a strongly worded statement, Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) condemned the actions.
“The attack was clearly planned. The police acted under illegal instructions. It’s a direct attack on our democracy,” read part of the statement.
They emphasized that such actions violated constitutional rights.
“The Political Parties Act and Constitution of Kenya protect our right to organise, engage, and mobilise without fear,” the DCP insisted.
Moreover, the party accused the state of targeting their events repeatedly, calling these moves acts of political intimidation.
“These planned acts of suppression against DCP must stop. This country is not a police state,” another section of the statement added.
Opposition leaders have now urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to launch immediate investigations into the incident.
“IPOA must act swiftly. We have filed complaints before, but nothing has changed,” Senator Methu told journalists.
They warned of rising anger among supporters.
“If this brutality continues, our people will rise. But we will remain within the law. Enough is enough,” he added.
As dust settles in Gilgil, Kenyans now demand answers. Why was a peaceful political rally violently dispersed? And who gave the orders?
The answers remain elusive—but the message from the opposition is loud and clear: they will not back down.
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Gachagua Allies’ Gilgil Rally Thrown Into Chaos as Police Fire Teargas, One Injured
