Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to formally report to police claims that 68 women were raped by police officers during the recent Ol Kalou by- elections warning against what he termed the politicisation of serious matters.

Speaking on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Bomet, Murkomen said the government would not shield anyone found culpable if credible complaints were presented to law enforcement agencies.

“I heard Mr. Gachagua saying, in record, of 68 women who were raped. And he says that they were raped by police officers. I want to dare Mr. Gachagua, if you are truly a father who has children, if you are a husband of a woman, you cannot play politics with 68 lives of women who were raped,” Murkomen said.

Report to relevant authorities

The CS urged Gachagua to take the alleged victims to the nearest police station so that investigations could begin.

“If it is true that 68 women were raped, please take those names to the nearest police station. Let that be reported. We would like those people to be arrested. We are not going to condone any person being violated, let alone our women being violated, or gender-based violence of raping women,” he said.

Murkomen said the claims were too grave to be used as political rhetoric, insisting that every reported case would be thoroughly investigated.

“Kam yeye ako na watu ambao wamekuwa affected 68, awapeleke majina, peleke kwa police station, wale watu warecord statement. We will make sure that the courts take the severest punishment for any person who has committed those acts,” he added.

Cheap politics

However, the Interior CS accused Gachagua of engaging in “cheap politics” if the claims could not be substantiated.

“But if he is playing cheap politics, then I must tell Mr. Gachagua, even in your purported victory, you are a terrible loser, because even in that purported winning, you have lost by just using fictitious names of 68 raped women to make a political statement,” Murkomen said.

“I want to tell you, you are a loser, and you are a forever loser by using women as your object for political gain. But if they are real women, he must present those women to report a statement, and all those who perpetrated those heinous acts must be taken to court.”

The interior CS further appealed to political leaders to exercise restraint when making public statements on matters touching on victims of sexual violence.

“Please, let us be mindful of the things we say. This nation transcends. This is not the first election. Winning one seat does not make us become reckless in the statements we make,” he said.

Murkomen’s remarks come days after Gachagua, while addressing supporters at opposition events following the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, claimed that 68 women were sexually assaulted by police officers