Gachagua Hits Out at Police Over Alleged Interference in Nakuru
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified his criticism of the National Police Service (NPS), accusing the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, of reneging on commitments to keep the service apolitical and of allowing political interference in Nakuru County.
In a statement issued on Monday, February 9, 2026, Gachagua claimed that assurances given by the police leadership just days earlier had been violated, following what he described as deliberate disruption of his planned engagements in Nakuru and parts of Naivasha. The former deputy president alleged that the police had acted under political influence, contrary to constitutional guarantees on freedom of movement and assembly.
According to Gachagua, who is also the leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Inspector General Kanja had last week met leaders from the United Opposition and offered firm assurances regarding the conduct of the police during public gatherings.
“You were categorical that under your command, the police would never disrupt public meetings or stop leaders from engaging members of the public,” Gachagua said, recalling the meeting.
“You gave us an assurance that the service will respect constitutional provisions guaranteeing freedom of movement and assembly,” he added.
However, Gachagua claimed those assurances were short-lived. He alleged that the police command structure in Nakuru County had been compromised and was operating under the influence of politically connected individuals.
“I specifically alerted you that the police command in Nakuru County was in the hands of the spouse of the county governor,” he said, accusing the Inspector General of having “surrendered the command of the police to political operatives and goons.”
The former deputy president was on Sunday in Njabini, Nyandarua County, where he attended a church service at Good Shepherd Parish Catholic Church alongside other opposition leaders. Following the service, his team was expected to proceed to several stopovers, including Kinamba Trading Centre in Naivasha, Nakuru County, where he was scheduled to address residents.
However, opposition leaders later reported a heavy police presence along the Naivasha–Nakuru highway, particularly near Karati River. Gachagua claimed the deployment was intended to block his motorcade from entering Nakuru County.
“Officers in four Land Cruisers, under the command of the Naivasha OCPD, erected a roadblock at Karati River and intimidated members of the public for over an hour,” Gachagua alleged.
He further claimed that the situation only changed after members of the public confronted the officers.
“The police only withdrew after hundreds of agitated members of the public demanded that our motorcade be allowed to proceed,” he said.
Gachagua accused the Nakuru County Commander of directly blocking his entry into the county, despite there being no court order or legal justification to stop his meetings. He argued that such actions undermined democracy and signalled a return to the misuse of security agencies for political purposes.
The former deputy president also referenced previous incidents, including a confrontation in March 2025, where he alleged that police officers disrupted his meetings in Mai Mahiu and Naivasha town.
As of publication, the National Police Service had not issued a formal response to the allegations. The claims add to growing concerns from opposition leaders over the neutrality of security agencies ahead of intensified political activities across the country.
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Gachagua Hits Out at Police Over Alleged Interference in Nakuru
