In a dramatic turn of events, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has penned an explosive letter claiming multiple assassination attempts and ongoing threats to his life, pointing fingers at senior state officials and accusing the police of deliberate negligence.
Addressed to the current 2nd Deputy President and the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja Kirocho, the eight-page letter dated April 15, 2025, accuses the government of orchestrating or enabling a series of coordinated attacks against him, his family, supporters, and properties.
“You withdrew my security in a clear thought-out scheme and backward conspiracy to make me vulnerable to organized criminal gangs in cohort with the Police and other Security Agencies,” reads part of the letter.
Alleged Assassination Attempts and Attacks
Gachagua details a chilling timeline of events, claiming targeted attacks dating back to November 2024. He outlines at least six separate incidents, including:
- November 28, 2024 – Alleged ambush at a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County, where he says he was attacked by gangs, vehicles were destroyed, and mourners beaten while police watched.
- December 28, 2024 – Incident in Shamata, Nyandarua, where tear gas was reportedly used by police allegedly working with gangs to attack him and scatter his supporters.
- January 18, 2025 – Disruption of a prayer rally in Nyeri where Gachagua’s spouse, Pastor Dorcas, was present. He claims gangs hijacked the event and police cooperated with the attackers.
- March 23, 2025 – Alleged violence at ACK St. Peter’s Cathedral in Nyeri, where congregants were attacked and vehicles vandalized.
- March 29, 2025 – Clashes in Naivasha involving a contingent of police officers under OCPD Keter, where residents were reportedly beaten and tear-gassed.
- April 6, 2025 – A brutal raid at PCEA Kasarani East Parish in Nairobi allegedly by machete-wielding gangsters during a church service.
Claims of Surveillance and Harassment
Gachagua also claims that state security agencies have been trailing him using marked and unmarked vehicles. He alleges that on December 19, 2024, a suspected National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer trailed him in a fake vehicle, heightening his fears of surveillance and targeting.
“It is within your knowledge that the Deputy Inspector General of Police had instructed the police not to provide security,” he writes, accusing the current regime of turning a blind eye to his plight.
This letter follows Gachagua’s impeachment in 2024 under what he describes as “flimsy and trumped-up charges,” after serving as Deputy President from 2022.
He now claims the persecution is politically motivated, citing a “current unpopular regime” and linking the violence to those aligned with it.
He concludes by holding the police and government accountable, labeling their silence as complicity.
Gachagua’s allegations come at a time of heightened political tension, with court battles still ongoing regarding his impeachment. His supporters have echoed concerns over his safety, and the public awaits a formal response from the government and police.
The accusations are bound to stir debate over political freedom, security, and state accountability in Kenya’s ever-shifting political landscape.
