A sharp political clash has erupted between former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika following Gachagua’s allegations of police interference during his recent tour of Nakuru County.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Gachagua accused the National Police Service (NPS) of abandoning its constitutional duty of political neutrality. He cited a meeting held on January 30, 2026, where the police leadership allegedly assured political leaders that officers would respect freedoms of movement and assembly and would not disrupt public meetings.
Gachagua claimed those assurances were violated when police allegedly blocked his convoy at Karati River on the Nyandarua–Nakuru border, preventing him from accessing Kinamba Trading Centre in Naivasha. He alleged that the roadblock was ordered by individuals with political and business interests linked to President William Ruto, and further claimed that the Nakuru police command had effectively been “surrendered” to the governor’s spouse.
According to Gachagua, armed officers in multiple vehicles harassed members of the public for over an hour before withdrawing after crowds protested the blockade. He also accused the Naivasha police command of a pattern of disrupting his meetings, citing previous incidents in Mai Mahiu and Naivasha town. He questioned why police resources were allegedly being used for political purposes while crime levels remain high in the area.
“The police in four land cruisers under the command of Naivasha OCPD Mr. Sigei Wilson of telephone 0721970962 had officers masking their faces and harassed members of the public for over one hour and withdrew after hundreds of agitated members of the public arrived at the scene and demanded the roadblock be removed to allow my entourage access Nakuru county,” Mr. Gachagua stated.
Governor Kihika responded with an equally forceful rebuttal, dismissing Gachagua’s claims as baseless and personal. She accused the former deputy president of obsession with her family and alleged that he had previously attempted to coerce her spouse into business dealings, including sugar importation and partnerships involving his own family – claims she said she could substantiate.
Kihika maintained that Gachagua is free to visit Nakuru like any other Kenyan but accused him of incitement, tribal rhetoric, and a lack of substantive policy agenda. She argued that Nakuru, as a cosmopolitan county, would not tolerate divisive politics, adding that lawful conduct must be observed by all leaders.
The exchange underscores rising political tensions as leaders trade accusations over state institutions, business interests, and the conduct of public rallies, placing renewed scrutiny on police neutrality ahead of heightened political activity.