NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has raised alarm over ongoing threats to his life, alleging multiple assassination attempts and continuous surveillance by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
In a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, Gachagua detailed incidents where he believes his life and the lives of his family members have been deliberately targeted by criminal gangs and certain individuals within the security services.
The letter, dated April 15, 2025, accuses various elements within the police and NIS of facilitating or failing to act against attacks on Gachagua’s life.
The former Deputy President claims that NIS officers are tracking his movements and that his family has been stalked, raising concerns about the involvement of state agencies in orchestrating the attacks.
Gachagua described several recent incidents that have put his life in danger, including an alleged assassination attempt during a December 2024 event in Limuru, Kiambu County, where criminal gangs attacked him and his supporters.
Despite the attack, no action was taken against the perpetrators, and the police allegedly failed to intervene during the assault.
“I demand immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind these attacks. My family and supporters are under constant threat, and I am being stalked by NIS operatives,” Gachagua wrote in the letter, further noting that the security agencies have failed to intervene during or after several attacks.
Similar incidents followed in early 2025, including an attack at a prayer rally in Nyeri, where an armed gang harassed Gachagua’s wife and others while the police stood by without intervening.
Further, the former Deputy President pointed to other disturbing incidents in which he was allegedly attacked by gangs, including during church services and public gatherings, with security forces providing no protection.
Gachagua voiced his concerns in the letter, urging that the matter be taken seriously by the police leadership, given the growing threat to his life.
“My life is in danger, and I demand that immediate action be taken to arrest and prosecute those responsible for these attempts on my life. I also request that my security be heightened and that the police prevent these incidents from continuing,” Gachagua wrote in the letter.
The Deputy President also reminded the police chief that Kenya is a constitutional democracy, where the rule of law must be upheld, and citizens, including elected leaders, should be protected from harm.
He further emphasized that the ongoing pattern of violence and harassment was reminiscent of the lead-up to the 2007 elections, where similar incidents of political violence led to international scrutiny.
Gachagua’s letter has raised concerns across the political spectrum, with many questioning the effectiveness of the national security apparatus in protecting high-profile individuals from threats, particularly when elements within the security services may be complicit in these attacks.
The Inspector General of Police has been urged to act swiftly in addressing the allegations made by Gachagua and ensure that the security of all citizens, especially public figures, is guaranteed.
My life is in danger.
