Embakasi North Member of Parliament (MP) has criticised police conduct following chaotic scenes in Kitengela at the embattled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and his camp in Kitengela.

In an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Gakuya accused security agencies of using excessive force against peaceful gatherings in churches and political rallies.

“If gatherings are peaceful, why shoot to kill? Why invade a church and rallies and cause chaos?” Gakuya posed, questioning the motive behind the heavy police presence in Kitengela.

The Sunday, February 15, 2026, rally was abruptly cut short after police fired tear gas and dispersed crowds, citing security concerns.

However, the MP has warned that such actions risk undermining democratic freedoms.

“We don’t want to take our country back to a ‘Banana Republic. To date, the police have not arrested anyone, which suggests they are in bed with the goons,” he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition have vows showdown after Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja snubbed them when they visited to petition over police misconduct in Kitengela, Witima church in Othaya, among others.

Opposition leaders on Monday, February 16, 2026, staged a dramatic visit to Vigilance House in Nairobi, accusing the National Police Service (NPS) of failing to act on a series of attacks targeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies.

Led by Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa, and Gachagua, the United Opposition delegation demanded accountability over what they described as “systematic harassment” and violations of human rights.

Speaking outside the police headquarters, Wamalwa claimed there have been at least 22 incidents in which police officers and suspected hired goons attacked Gachagua and opposition supporters during public engagements across the country.

“There are incidences where there were violations of human rights, particularly targeting Rigathi Gachagua, the second deputy president, and we have over 22 different incidences where the police and goons attacked him and all of us who were with him in various locations across the country,” Wamalwa said.

He revealed that during a previous engagement, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja had undertaken to present a report by February 16, 2026, detailing action taken and remedial measures to address the concerns raised by opposition leaders.

However, when the delegation returned to Vigilance House on Monday, they found neither the Inspector General nor his deputies present.

“The IG of police undertook that by today, the 16th of February, when we return here, he will have a report on action taken and remedial measures put in place to address these serious concerns that the entire leadership of the opposition had raised. We are here today, and the IG is not here; not even DIG Lagat is here, and not even DIG Masengeli is here. They have all taken off,” Wamalwa stated.

Wamalwa further claimed that the police chiefs may have been instructed “from above” not to engage them, framing the matter as one of accountability rather than politics.

“We believe this is because of orders from above where they have been told not to engage us, but this is an issue of accountability, so we are not going to relent. We have said we will be back here again on Friday, and when we come, we expect none other than IG Kanja himself to be here to address the concerns we have raised,” he said.