Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto and senior government officials of involvement in the alleged abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich.
In a statement he released on Wednesday, September 2, Gachagua also compelled Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to publish findings from previous investigations into several incidents, claiming that investigations ordered by the police boss had yielded no results.
Gachagua alleged that Kiprotich was targeted because he was preparing an investigative story on alleged corruption involving compensation payments to Mau Forest 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,” Gachagua claimed.
He alleged that a meeting between Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on Monday night, August 31 preceded the alleged abduction.
He further claimed that DCI Director Mohamed Amin had been instructed to place Kiprotich under 24-hour surveillance before a team allegedly linked to the abduction was assembled.
Gachagua went ahead to name a retired police officer as the alleged coordinator of the operation, claiming he had been recalled to lead a squad he described as being trained in “abductions, killings, and cover-ups.”
The former Deputy President did not provide evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegations. Vantage Ke could not independently establish the same allegations.
Gachagua also claimed that the alleged abductors initially intended to kill Kiprotich but abandoned the plan after his disappearance triggered public outrage.
He went on to allege that the same group was behind other incidents, including the alleged abduction of businessman Jimmy in Mlolongo and the death of Rachel Wandeto.
Gachagua accused Murkomen, Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat and other officials of exercising control over police operations, claims he said explained why previous cases had not resulted in arrests.
“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,” Gachagua alleged.
He directly attacked Kanja's leadership of the National Police Service, describing him as “just a flower girl leading a shell” and warning that he could eventually be blamed for alleged excesses within the Service.
Gachagua also questioned why Kanja had ordered an investigation into Kiprotich's alleged abduction before releasing findings from investigations into other incidents. He specifically cited the death of Wandeto, attacks on Witima ACK Church, Mwiki PCEA Church and Kariobangi PCEA Church, as well as killings and unrest in Ol Kalou.
“Bwana Kanja, before you order investigations into the abduction of Alex, kindly first release the findings of the previous investigations you ordered,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) had failed in its mandate, declaring: “IPOA is dead, and the rule of law has been suspended.”
The former Deputy President ended his statement with a warning to Kanja, saying: “I can see you crying at the International Criminal Court in The Hague next year.”
Gachagua's allegations come amid heightened scrutiny over the reported abduction of Kiprotich, with calls for authorities to establish who was behind the incident and ensure accountability.
The statement came moments after the National Police Service (NPS) ordered an immediate investigation into Kiprotich's abduction in Gilgil, as the police seek to establish what happened and identify individuals reportedly involved in the incident.
Kiprotich was allegedly abducted on the night of September 1 after a white vehicle intercepted and blocked his car along the Gilgil-Nakuru highway. Four masked and armed men were said to have pulled him out of the vehicle before forcing him into a Subaru.
He was later dumped near Masinga Dam at around 2 a.m., approximately 200 kilometres from where he was abducted. Kiprotich reportedly sought safety at a nearby homestead, where a family took him in.
The Standard Group team found him at about 6:30 a.m. Although he had not sustained any physical injuries, he was visibly shaken by the ordeal.
