Senator Nyutu: Ruto is using violence to stop opposition from expressing views
By Aloys Michael, January 13, 2026Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has accused President William Ruto of using violence to intimidate and silence opposition leaders such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying the country has entered a dangerous political phase where force is being used instead of ideas.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Nyutu stated that the year had begun with high political tension, despite leaders and citizens hoping for peace and unity.
“The President, of course, made a very journey to politics and sponsored violence against us on Sunday, very serious violence in Gatundu South against the former Deputy President. This is not unexpected, and we expect this to continue, because when you have inferior ideas, then you do not want those big ideas to be heard,” he stated.
This comes after a church service attended by Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Party leader Rigathi Gachagua was disrupted on Sunday, January 11, 2026, by violent clashes between rival youth groups outside the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kiamworia, Gatundu South.
The groups, armed with batons, engaged in a standoff outside the church, prompting police to deploy teargas to disperse the youths.
The confrontation also disrupted traffic along the Kiamworia-Gatundu South road and resulted in a minibus being vandalised. The driver was accused of ferrying the youths to the area.
Commenting on the incident, Gachagua warned Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators against facilitating goons to sabotage his public events.
Speaking during an interview with Kameme FM and Radio on Monday, January 12, 2026, Gachagua claimed that leaders affiliated with Ruto’s administration have been hiring PSV vehicles to attack his public events as well as those of his allies.
Gachagua claimed that some owners of the unnamed PSV saccos, particularly those operating in Thika, were unaware that their vehicles had been exploited to conduct the scheme.
“I want to tell people who own saccos that they are very lucky because the other day, some people had hired over 20 PSV vehicles to take goons in Gatundu to attack my supporters, and it was just a matter of minutes; the residents could have burned them, and I know some of those who own the saccos were not aware,” Gachagua said.
“I have a message to owners of the Matatu saccos, that the people have warned that if they dare to give goons their vehicles, if it fails to come back, do not complain,” Gachagua said.
Nyuto bare knuckles
The senator has warned that those ideals were under threat, saying that Ruto is focusing too much on politics instead of governance and development.
Nyutu has also questioned why the president is constantly touring the country to launch projects, arguing that real development should speak for itself.
“The President does not have to go to Nyeri to launch anything. I mean, it is a road you are building. Development talks for itself. Your communication team can say what you have done. You do not have to go,” the Senator said.
He further claimed that some of the attackers were ferried into the area and allowed to operate freely.
“There were many young men transported to Gatundu South who did not come from South. It was widely reported. It was there for everybody to see,” he said.
Moreover, Nyutu also questioned the role of the police, claiming that some groups were protected.
“We have had very many incidents of goons having protection by the police,” he said, adding that some of the youths who were arrested said to have admitted they had been sent by people close to power.
The senator warned that using violence to suppress dissent was dangerous for democracy and called on leaders to allow free expression and competition of ideas, saying Kenya’s future depends on peace, openness and respect for different views.