Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto’s administration of sponsoring criminal gangs to intimidate government critics.
He alleged that rogue police officers were working alongside armed civilians to carry out attacks in different parts of the country.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook account, Gachagua alleged that Kenya’s security situation had deteriorated, claiming that goons had become part of a state-sponsored militia operating with the protection of elements within the National Police Service.
He alleged that attacks had occurred in Mwiki, Kariobangi, Witima, Ol Kalou, Kisii, Keumbu and along Thika Road, as well as at entertainment venues in Nairobi, saying the incidents had left Kenyans fearful while discouraging investors and tourists.
“The Government that swore to protect life and property is now hurting them,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president accused the police leadership of failing to act against the alleged collaboration between officers and criminal gangs.
He further alleged that plainclothes officers had been deployed alongside civilians while uniformed officers were instructed not to intervene.
Gachagua also claimed that Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti as part of the multinational security mission had instead been sent to learn tactics for working alongside criminal gangs, an allegation for which he offered no evidence.
He further alleged that police in Kisii worked with criminal gangs to disrupt activities linked to his Linda Mwananchi political movement and claimed officers involved in an earlier attack in Witima had not been prosecuted.
Gachagua also alleged that a special police squad had been stationed at a hotel in Ol Kalou ahead of a parliamentary by-election later this month and was awaiting instructions to cause unrest.
The Focus Paper could not independently verify the allegations.
But on various occasions, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo denied allegations that the government was sponsoring or financing violent gangs to disrupt political rallies and intimidate opposition leaders.
Dr. Omollo described the claims as street talk and challenged those making the accusations to provide evidence and file formal complaints with the police instead of making public allegations.
He said there was no justification for his office to target opposition leaders, rejected accusations of state-sponsored political violence and maintained that the government does not deploy criminal gangs to interfere with political activities.
The government and the National Police Service had not immediately responded to Gachagua’s broader allegations.
The country has been experiencing eightened political tensions in recent months, with opposition leaders accusing the government of using excessive force and failing to protect citizens during political events.
The government has consistently denied allegations of sponsoring violence or directing security agencies to target political opponents.
In his statement, Gachagua urged Kenyans to vote out Ruto’s administration in the next general election, saying it would provide an opportunity to restore sanity in the country.
He revisited the past incident such the Kiambaa Church massacre, saying Kenyans had not forgotten where it all began.
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