Wamalwa vows showdown as IG Kanja snubs opposition leaders at Vigilance House
By Mustafa Juma, February 16, 2026Opposition leaders on Monday, February 16, 2026, staged a dramatic visit to Vigilance House in Nairobi, accusing the National Police Service 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.
Police report
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.
Two-week ultimatum
The United Opposition had given IG Kanja an ultimatum of two weeks to arrest security officers believed to be behind the Othaya church attack incident.
The opposition indicated that should their demand not be met by the IG by February 16, 2026, they would be forced to call for mass action.
Speaking in a media briefing after a session with the IG in Nairobi on Friday, January 30, 2026, the opposition said that the incident that happened on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at a church in Othaya was not a usual incident.
They termed it an assassination attempt against Gachagua, and therefore, it should be investigated with urgency.