Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has responded to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s allegations of state-sponsored intimidation in Ol Kalou, dismissing the claims and warning against any attempts to incite violence.

Writing on X on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, shortly after Gachagua accused the Interior Ministry of deploying security officers and alleged state-sponsored goons to disrupt Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) political activities in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, Murkomen accused Gachagua of employing what he described as “gimmicks” and “juvenile attempts at reverse psychology” to shift public attention.

“Mr Rigathi Gachagua, we know your gimmicks and juvenile attempts at reverse psychology. Try violence in Ol Kalou, and you will see,” Murkomen said.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary also issued a warning to members of the public, urging them not to participate in any acts of violence allegedly orchestrated by political actors.

“To anyone being recruited to violence by Mr Gachagua, keep off because the consequences will be dire,” he added.

Murkomen maintained that the government would not tolerate lawlessness and warned that anyone found engaging in violence would face legal consequences.

Gachagua blames Murkomen for police brutality and goonism

The remarks from the CS followed Gachagua’s claims that DCP supporters had been assaulted by security officers and alleged state-sponsored militia, with his political team reportedly trapped at the Royal Garden Hotel in Ol Kalou. Those allegations had not been independently verified at the time of publication.

In a statement released on his X handle on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Gachagua said that a special police unit had been dispatched to the area, saying that its members had begun abducting and assaulting DCP supporters.

According to Gachagua, the officers and the goons arrived in Ol Kalou hours before the planned political activities and launched what he described as a crackdown targeting his supporters.

“Our teams are held up at the Royal Garden Hotel under brutal police and state-sponsored militia. Goons are currently breaking into the hotel,” Gachagua said.

The exchange marks the latest escalation in tensions between the former deputy president and the Interior Cabinet Secretary as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election, with both leaders offering sharply contrasting accounts of the situation in Ol Kalou ahead of by-elections slated for July 16, 2026.