NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a fresh attack on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, accusing him of losing control of the National Police Service and alleging that he is being used by the government for political ends.
Speaking during an interview on KTN, Gachagua said IG Kanja was in a difficult position and could not resign because of what he described as pressure from President William Ruto’s administration.
“I think Douglas Kanja must be a very agonised person. I don’t think he can resign because he has a problem, and the President has held him hostage because his papers are not good,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president went further to allege that Kanja’s academic credentials were questionable, claiming:
“IG Kanja’s degree certificate is fake,” he said.
Asked how he knew, the former Deputy President said, “The President told me myself.”
Praise for Kanja’s Ol Kalou Deployment
Gachagua’s remarks came while reflecting on the recent Ol Kalou by-election, which was marked by violence involving an armed squad travelling in Prado SUVs.
The former deputy president acknowledged the deployment by the Inspector General during the election, saying Kanja had performed his security duties.
“He deployed 16 police officers in every polling station. Two inside and 14 outside. He deployed GSU just in case there was a problem. He did his job,” he said.
However, Gachagua claimed that another group linked to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen overpowered the deployment made by the police chief.
“Murkomen sent another group that overpowered what IG Kanja had deployed, and they were told not to interfere with their activities,” the DCP boss said.
During the by-election, the group of armed individuals operating in Prado vehicles moved around some polling stations during the exercise.
Two people were killed during the by-election; locals were injured, as well as journalists.
Despite the identification of some of the rogue men involved in the attack, detectives are yet to question or arrest any suspect.
The group is said to have worked for the ruling UDA party that suffered a humiliating defeat in the by-election.
Gachagua’s DCP won with a landslide, beating the UDA candidate by more than 30,000 votes.
‘He Will Be the Most Disgraced Police Chief’
Gachagua urged Kanja to consider resigning, warning that history would judge him harshly if he remained in office amid allegations of police misconduct.
“He is a very helpless man. I have told him to consider resigning because he will be the most disgraced head of police since independence,” he said.
“The police he heads have become a goon police. Goons have become part of the police service.”
He accused the National Police Service under Kanja’s leadership of allowing criminal elements to operate within its ranks.
Gachagua further accused the police leadership of failing to protect citizens.
“IG Kanja is the head of police who attacks citizens. The people under you are the ones who are killing people and destroying property,” he said.
Claims of Political Interference
The former deputy president alleged that President Ruto was keeping Kanja in office to shield the government from blame ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“The President holds him hostage,” he said.
Gachagua claimed the President was using Kanja’s position to influence operations within the National Police Service.
“The President would want to keep Douglas Kanja up to the elections so that Murkomen can do whatever he wants within the National Police Service, and then Kanja can be blamed,” the DCP leader said.
He added:”Kanja is helpless because if he resigns, the President will go for him.”
Gachagua further claimed: “I think he has to just stay there, allow Murkomen and Omollo do crazy things within the National Police Service… and then the blame is taken to IG Kanja.”
The allegations come amid heightened political debate over the role of security agencies ahead of the 2027 General Election, with opposition leaders repeatedly raising concerns over police neutrality and accountability.