Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called out Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, accusing him of losing control of the National Police Service and allowing politicians to run rogue security operations.

He made the comment after his entourage was attacked in Kagio, Kirinyaga County, on Friday, January 9, 2026.

In a statement issued on Saturday, January 6, 2026, via his social media pages, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader questioned why the police command structure has been surrendered to political actors, warning that the service is fast becoming “a source of insecurity instead of protection.”

”Why have you surrendered the command of the National Police Service to politicians? Are you not embarrassed that the National Police Service has become the cause of insecurity in the country instead of providing security to citizens?” Gachagua posed.

Special squad operation in Kirinyaga

Gachagua has claimed that on Friday, January 9, 2026, a special squad of officers in civilian clothes stormed Kirinyaga County and commandeered two police Land Cruisers from Baricho and Wang’uru police stations.

According to him, the team was led by an officer attached to the Murang’a Woman Representative’s office, the same officer he alleged was involved in the attack on Senator John Methu in July 2025 and later took part in violence during the Narok by-elections.

He further pointed out that the same officer, working alongside Kirinyaga County government askaris, mounted a roadblock along the Sagana–Kagio–Kutus road, just metres from Sagana Police Station.

”Yesterday, 9th January 2026, in Kirinyaga County, a special squad of officers in civilian clothes arrived in Kirinyaga County and commandeered two police land cruisers from Baricho and Wang’uru police stations.
The squad was under the command of an officer attached to the Murang’a women representative,” Gachagua said.

”This officer is the same one who attacked Senator John Methu in Murang’a in July 2025. The same officer and the women representative took over Narok police command during the recent by-elections and attacked my convoy and unleashed terror on the people of Narok town,” He went ahead.

Injuries, damage and alleged robbery

The former deputy president claimed one of his security officers was seriously injured, several vehicles were damaged, and members of his media team were robbed of their communication equipment.
He said the group was blocked from proceeding to Kagio town for a planned public engagement, forcing them to retreat and use an alternative route.

”The special squad, with the help of the county askaris, violently attacked my convoy with tear gas and live ammunition. They seriously injured one of our security personnel, damaged our vehicles and robbed our media team of their communication equipment. They stopped us from proceeding to Kagio town for a public engagement.” Gachagua narrated.

Despite the incident, Gachagua and his team later arrived in Kagio and addressed thousands of supporters. In a striking contrast, he notes that another group of uniformed officers under the local Sub-County Police Commander monitored the meeting from a distance, allowed it to proceed peacefully, and left after it ended.

Questions over police command structure

Gachagua said the incident pointed to the existence of parallel chains of command within the National Police Service.
“Are there several different commands outside your command?” he posed to the Inspector General. “Are you being intimidated and undermined by your juniors?”

He demanded the immediate arrest of the officers involved and called for them to be charged with robbery with violence over the alleged theft of media equipment.

In a personal tone, Gachagua said he was deeply embarrassed by what he described as the collapse of leadership within the police service.
“As your neighbour at home, I am indeed very embarrassed by your stewardship of the National Police Service and how you can surrender command to a junior, excited, bellicose and overzealous politician,” he said. “Very embarrassing.” Rigathi Gachagua said.