Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has challenged Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take firm control of the National Police Service ahead of the 2027 General Election or resign.
Gachagua made the remarks in a letter dated Thursday, August 20, ahead of his planned political visit to Emurua Dikirr Constituency in Narok County on Friday.
In the letter, Gachagua questioned Kanja’s ability to command the police, citing growing concerns over political violence and the conduct of security officers during political activities.
He also asked the Inspector General to assure him, his supporters and residents of Emurua Dikirr that adequate security arrangements had been made ahead of the visit.
Gachagua is expected to tour the constituency as part of his wider political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. The former Deputy President has been holding rallies across the country as he works to build support for the opposition coalition against President William Ruto.
The Emurua Dikirr visit was organised at the invitation of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Vincent Rotich, who came second in the May 14, 2026 by-election.
Gachagua claims that thousands of DCP supporters and leaders of the party from different parts of the nation are set to grace the thanksgiving occasion.
These latest conditions from Gachagua have come just days after cases of violence were reported to have occurred during a Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay.
In this particular case, violence involved attacks on political activists, journalists, and motorists with road blockages being done using stones and logs. People got injured, while some of the vehicles were damaged, with police later arresting the suspects of the chaos.
The violence incident in Homa Bay has now made citizens raise more concerns about the safety of political gatherings as the country gears up for the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua also talked about the violence witnessed during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election in July whereby, as per reports, there were attacks on voters and journalists in some of the voting centers.
The former Deputy President had previously accused Kanja of orchestrating a security mission with the aim of disrupting the elections. The allegations had been denied by government officials.
In his letter to Kanja, Gachagua further claimed that his planned visit to Emurua Dikirr had been preceded by threats from area MP David Kipsang Keter and other individuals, who he alleged warned him and his supporters against entering the constituency.
He also recalled a meeting with Kanja on January 30, 2026, saying he had presented evidence of 24 attacks allegedly targeting him.
According to Gachagua, little action had been taken on the complaints several months later.
He used the latest letter to put Kanja on notice, challenging him to demonstrate that he was in control of the police ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Take charge of the National Police Service or resign,” Gachagua told the Inspector General.
The pressure on Kanja has also come from other quarters, with the Church and Clergy Association of Kenya calling for his resignation over what it described as increasing political violence and goonism in the country.