Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised alarm over a series of violent attacks and alleged assassination attempts on his life.
In a letter dated Tuesday, April 15, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Gachagua said the attacks are part of a coordinated plot involving organized criminal gangs and rogue officers within the police force.
"You withdrew my security in a clear thought-out scheme and backward conspiracy to make me venerable to organized criminal gangs in cohort with the police and other security agencies and have been implementing the scheme," he stated.
Gachagua listed six incidents where he narrowly escaped harm, including an incident on November 28, 2024, during a funeral service in Limuru, Kiambu County where he was attacked by organized criminal gangs.
"On 28 November, 2024 at a Solemn Funeral Service in Limuru, Kiambu county, I was attacked by organized criminal gangs, my vehicles damaged irreparably, women and children roughed, property of unknown value destroyed, mourners beaten up as police watched; this was an assassination attempt that failed.
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"The attackers, whose photos and information were shared online for more than one month on, no action has been taken on either. Instead, politicians and leaders aligned to me including senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa, Former Limuru MP Hon. Peter Mwathi have been treated to harassment by security agencies over what is within your knowledge of whom the planners and executors were," he said.
In light of these repeated incidents, Gachagua issued six demands to Kanja including the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
He also demanded that the IG provide security in all public gatherings that he attends, and provide security for him.
Gachagua also demanded that the IG ceases interfering with peaceful gatherings of citizens, stop NIS officers and other security agencies from trailing him and his family as well as protecting his homes and properties.
Other than the Limuru attack, Gachagua claimed the second attack occurred on December 28, 2024, in Shamata, Nyandarua County where an inspector of police flanked by organized criminal gangs reportedly threw a teargas canister at him.
He then narrated a third incident that happened on January 18, 2025, at Kamukunji grounds in Nyeri Town during a prayer rally.
"On 18th January, 2025 at Kamukunji grounds in Nyeri Town, at a prayer rally organized by the popularly known Rev. Maina Wa OTC, when my Spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi was preaching, an attack gang well known to you, descended on the congregation and took over the prayer meeting. My spouse had to be whisked away by her private security.
"The police in civilian attire joined forces with the criminals and hitherto, no action has been taken. You are well aware that I was to attend these prayers and after an intelligence tip-off, I skipped as a responsible citizen to avoid what would have been a retaliation by my supporters which you know would have led to conflict, bad for our nation," he explained.
The fourth incident occurred on March 23, 2025, at ACK St. Peters’ Cathedral in Nyeri where criminal gangs harassed church-goers and stoned vehicles in the church compound.
Just days later, on March 29, 2025, Gachagua says he was targeted by a contingent of heavily armed police officers who reportedly beat and roughed up innocent residents of the town.
The most recent incident Gachagua highlighted happened on April 6, 2025, at a church service at PCEA Kasarani East Parish in Mwiki.
"On 6th April, 2025 at a church service at PCEA Kasarani East Parish, at Mwiki in Nairobi County, a battalion of furious gangsters wielding machetes and crude weapons stormed the church where I was worshipping and caused chaos on unthinkable magnitude; women, children and worshippers were treated to a cacophony of violence and not a single police officer responded despite the police station being a few meters from the church. It is within your knowledge that the Deputy Inspector General of Police had instructed the police not to provide security," he stated.
