Gachagua issues demands to IG Kanja over mass deployment of police to Ol Kalou
By Mustafa Juma, July 15, 2026Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has written a strongly worded letter to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, raising concerns over the deployment of more than 2,000 police officers to Ol Kalou ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary by-election and demanding that all officers deployed operate in uniform.
In the letter dated July 15, 2026, and shared via his official social media accounts, Gachagua accused elements within the security apparatus of planning to interfere with the electoral process, while urging the Inspector General to ensure the National Police Service remains neutral throughout polling day.
The former deputy president argued that while police have a constitutional duty to maintain law and order, the deployment in Ol Kalou was unprecedented and risked undermining public confidence in the election.
“We have noted the deployment of over 2,000 police officers in Ol Kalou; this is unprecedented in the history of elections in our country,” Gachagua wrote.
Calls for uniformed officers
Among his key demands, Gachagua said every officer deployed to the constituency should be easily identifiable.
“The 2,000 police officers deployed must be uniformed, they must display their service numbers, they must not be hooded, and they must use clearly marked police vehicles,” he stated.
He further urged the Inspector General to withdraw all plainclothes officers from the constituency, arguing that their presence could create fear among voters and political agents.
“For a start, you may, if you have the guts, order the immediate withdrawal of all non-uniformed police officers deployed in Ol Kalou,” he said.
Raises concerns over election security
The DCP leader claimed that previous campaign incidents involving his party had not been adequately investigated, claiming that DCP supporters and officials had been attacked during the campaign period.
He cited several incidents, including a reported assault on party officials at a hotel in Ol Kalou, claims that campaign teams were pepper-sprayed by individuals he described as plainclothes officers, damage to a campaign vehicle, and an attack targeting East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega.
Gachagua questioned why, in his view, no decisive action had been taken over the reported incidents.
He also alleged that if violence occurs during polling, responsibility would lie with the security agencies.
“With such a historic number, there should be no iota of electoral violence whatsoever. With 2,000 police officers, there should be no violence unless it is caused by the officers themselves,” he wrote.
The allegations contained in the letter have not been independently verified, and the National Police Service had not publicly responded to the claims by the time of publication.
Gachagua references Election Offences Act
In his letter, Gachagua reminded the Inspector General of provisions contained in the Election Offences Act regarding the use of security agencies during elections.
He cited Section 12 of the Election Offences Act, which prohibits the use of public officers or national security organs to induce or compel voters to support a particular candidate or political party.
The DCP leader urged the Inspector General to ensure police officers remain impartial and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Police assurance
Gachagua’s letter comes barely a day after Inspector General Douglas Kanja assured residents that elaborate security measures had been put in place to guarantee peaceful elections in Ol Kalou.
The National Police Service announced the deployment of additional security personnel to safeguard voters, election officials, candidates and election materials before, during and after polling.
While Gachagua claims a deployment of 2,000 officers, the police have confirmed a deployment of 1,000 officers to safeguard the vote.
Police also warned against acts of violence, voter intimidation, destruction of election materials and other offences, stating that anyone found breaking the law would face legal action.
IEBC raises alarm
The Ol Kalou by-election has attracted intense national attention after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) warned that escalating electoral offences could jeopardise the credibility of the exercise.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon recently cited reports of voter bribery, violence, intimidation, destruction of property and campaigns conducted outside legally permitted hours, warning that the Commission could postpone or cancel the election if the violations persisted.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) also condemned what it described as escalating political violence and electoral malpractice, saying it had deployed election monitors to observe the pre-election environment, polling day and the immediate aftermath.
Civil society organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, have similarly called for strict enforcement of electoral laws and accountability for anyone involved in violence or voter bribery.
The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election is widely viewed as one of the most politically significant contests since the reconstitution of the IEBC, with both the Kenya Kwanza administration and opposition parties treating it as a crucial test of political strength ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The outcome is expected to shape political narratives in the months ahead, even as attention remains focused on whether security agencies and electoral officials will deliver a peaceful, credible and transparent election.