Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take charge of the National Police Service ahead of the 2027 General Elections or resign.
In a letter dated August 20, 2026 and obtained by Vantage Ke, Gachagua accused Kanja of failing to control the police and warned him that he could be held responsible for security failures ahead of next year's elections.
“You either take charge of the Police Service ahead of the 10th August 2027 General Election or resign,” Gachagua told Kanja.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader also invoked the 2007/08 post-election violence, reminding Kanja of former Commissioner of Police General Mohamed Ali's interaction with the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the crisis.
“You will recall General Mohamed Ali, the former Commissioner of Police, and his interaction with the ICC following the 2007/08 post-election chaos due to his sins of omission and commission,” he stated.
Gachagua's letter was written ahead of his planned visit to Emurua Dikirr Constituency in Narok County on Friday, August 21, where he is expected to attend a thanksgiving event organised by DCP supporters.
The former Deputy President said his visit had been prompted by an invitation from DCP candidate Vincent Rotich, who contested the May 14, 2026 Emurua Dikirr by-election.
Gachagua claimed he had received reports of threats allegedly issued by the area's current Member of Parliament, David Kipsang Keter, and other individuals warning him and his supporters against visiting the constituency.
He further alleged that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo had financed Keter to mobilise goons and plain-clothes police officers to disrupt his visit.
Gachagua claimed the planned disruption could be worse than the chaos witnessed in Homa Bay over the weekend. “Be well informed that the instructions issued to Mr. Kipsang are that the Homa Bay chaos should be a shadow of what needs to happen in Emurua Dikirr,” he alleged.
He accused Kanja of presiding over a police service that had allegedly been taken over by civilians and goons, questioning whether the police chief was part of the alleged scheme or had failed to perform his duties.
He also claimed that he had presented evidence to Kanja in January 2026 concerning 24 attacks allegedly carried out against him, but accused the police of taking no action months later.
According to Gachagua, the alleged perpetrators remained active and continued to “wreak havoc across the country”.
The DCP leader further warned Kanja that he was being “set up” by President William Ruto, Murkomen and Omollo for potential criminal charges before the ICC. “You are the sacrificial lamb,” Gachagua told the police chief.
Gachagua also reminded Kanja that he had taken an oath to protect life and property, arguing that he had a constitutional right to travel anywhere in Kenya.
He concluded the letter by demanding assurances from the Inspector General over the security of his entourage, supporters and residents during Friday's visit. Gachagua asked Kanja to confirm whether adequate security measures had been put in place to protect life and property in Emurua Dikirr.
His warning comes against the backdrop of violence that recently disrupted a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay, where groups of attackers targeted political supporters, journalists and vehicles. Roads were reportedly barricaded using stones and logs, while several people sustained injuries and vehicles were damaged. Police subsequently arrested several suspects in connection with the unrest.
The Homa Bay incident has intensified concerns over the safety of political events and raised questions about whether security agencies are adequately prepared to prevent organised violence as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Elections.
Journalists covering the rally were also caught up in the violence, with media organisations reporting injuries to reporters and damage to equipment and vehicles.
The incident came weeks after similar unrest during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in July, when armed individuals reportedly attacked voters and journalists at polling stations.
Gachagua had previously accused Kanja of overseeing a security operation allegedly intended to interfere with the electoral process during the by-election. Government officials, however, denied the allegations.
Pressure has also been mounting on Kanja from religious leaders, with the Church and Clergy Association of Kenya calling for his resignation. The association accused the Inspector-General of failing to contain what it described as rising “goonism” and political violence across the country.
