Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of failing to uphold the political neutrality of the National Police Service (NPS) and allowing police officers to be used to frustrate his public engagements.
In a statement on Monday, Gachagua said the allegations follow commitments made by the Inspector General during a meeting held on Friday, January 30, 2026, attended by national leaders, the IG’s two deputies and senior police officers.
He said Kanja assured the leaders that the National Police Service would remain apolitical and respect constitutional guarantees on freedom of movement and assembly.
“Among them was a clarification that the National Police Service is apolitical and would not meddle in politics.
You went ahead to give us an assurance that the service will respect the constitutional provisions that guarantees freedom of movement and assembly,” he said.
Gachagua further said the Inspector General undertook that police officers under his command would not disrupt public meetings or prevent leaders from engaging with citizens.
“You gave a categorical undertaking that under your command, the police will never disrupt public meetings or stop leaders from engaging members of the public,” he said.
However, the former deputy president said he doubted the assurances, accusing the police leadership of having ceded control of the service to political actors.
“We doubted your assurances but nevertheless gave you the benefit of doubt while knowing very well you have surrendered the command of the National Police Service to politicians, political operatives and goons,” he said.
Gachagua singled out Nakuru County, claiming the local police command was under undue influence.
“I specifically alerted you that the police command in Nakuru County was in the hands of the spouse to the county governor,” he said.
He further alleged that the police in Nakuru were operating under the direction of a business associate of President William Ruto.
“Sure as December 25th is Christmas, you seem to have no authority of police in Nakuru County and you have regrettably surrendered the same to a business partner of Mr William Ruto,” he said.
Gachagua claimed that on Sunday, police officers mounted a roadblock at Karati River to block his entourage from entering Nakuru County from Nyandarua to address a public meeting at Kinamba Trading Centre in Naivasha.
“Yesterday the busybody ordered the Nakuru County Commander Mr Opuru Emmanuel… to erect a road block at Karati River and stop my entourage,” he said.
He alleged that police officers deployed in four Land Cruisers harassed members of the public for over an hour before withdrawing.
“The police… had officers masking their faces and harassed members of the public for over one hour,” he said.
Gachagua accused the Naivasha police command of repeatedly disrupting his meetings and called on the Inspector General to explain the alleged politicisation of the police service.
