Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s planned visit to Emurua Dikirr in Narok County on Friday is putting the spotlight on police preparedness as political tensions continue to rise ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua has maintained that he will proceed with the visit despite claims of a plan to disrupt his rallies. He says he has written to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja seeking adequate security during his engagements.
Speaking at a rally in Murang’a on Thursday, Gachagua questioned the ability of security agencies to distinguish between police officers and political goons.
“Kenya has become a country of goons. You can’t tell the difference between goons and police. I’m coming to Emurua Dikirr. Your job is to put enough security,” Gachagua said.
His concerns follow an incident on August 15 when his convoy was pelted with stones during a meet-the-people tour in Nakuru County.
The incident has added to growing concerns over political violence, with opposition leaders, lawmakers and religious leaders calling on security agencies to take stronger action.
The Church and Clergy Association of Kenya (CCAK) has warned that recent incidents could signal a dangerous political environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
CCAK national chairman Bishop Hudson Ndeda criticised police over the violence witnessed during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay.
“What we saw in Homa Bay: roads closed everywhere. Did the police see that? We saw on TV several kilometres of roads closed. That was a show of negligence,” Ndeda said.
The clergy has urged police to take full responsibility for maintaining security at political gatherings and preventing political intolerance from escalating.
The Emurua Dikirr visit is the first stop in a packed weekend schedule as Gachagua seeks to expand the opposition’s support base ahead of the 2027 contest.
He is expected to travel to Embu on Saturday before heading to neighbouring Kirinyaga County on Sunday.
His political caravan will then move to Kikuyu constituency next Wednesday, an area widely viewed as a stronghold of President William Ruto.
Gachagua’s previous rally in Kikuyu in April ended in chaos after youths and suspected goons reportedly blocked roads and lit bonfires, disrupting traffic and transport before police intervened.
The political tension has also triggered accusations between government and opposition leaders over the alleged use of goons at political rallies.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah criticised opposition figures, accusing them of promoting what he described as a culture of “goonism”.
“You’re planning goonism, then you point fingers at others,” Ichung’wah said, while calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the matter.
Gachagua, however, says he is not intimidated by the threats.
Speaking at his Wamunyoro home ahead of the Narok tour, he said residents of Emurua Dikirr had assured him they would protect him and prevent violence during his rallies.
“Mniweke kwa maombi, lakini hatuogopi, hatutishwi. Wamenipigia wakaniambia tutakulinda. Kwa hivyo kesho nitakuwa Emurua Dikirr.”
With political activity intensifying, all eyes will be on Emurua Dikirr to see how police handle the rally and whether the event passes without the violence that has increasingly characterised some political gatherings.
