Gachagua Blames IG Kanja for Ignoring Violence Threats Ahead of Mbeere North By-Election

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of neglecting to address rising threats of violence ahead of the Mbeere North by-election scheduled for November 27, 2025

In a strongly worded letter on Wednesday, the former Deputy President alleged that the police chief had ignored publicly circulated videos containing threats against him and residents. He demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those behind the threats

Gachagua named several individuals, including Simon Njagi Njiru (alias Gikundo wa Gikundo), Josiah Kariuki Ngari (alias Mtetezi Puff), and Susan Nyaga, accusing them of intimidating voters

He further linked the suspects to Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, the immediate former Mbeere North MP

“Despite the evidence and information in your custody, the above persons have not been arraigned. We demand that they be arrested immediately and charged under the penal code,” Gachagua wrote

He warned that the people of Mbeere North must be allowed to vote freely, insisting that “no one shall be allowed to force a candidate on the people”

Gachagua announced plans to campaign in the constituency between November 16 and 24, saying he was exercising his constitutional rights despite what he described as the IG’s “laissez-faire approach” to security

“The drums of war being beaten in Mbeere North under your watch are a national security threat,” Gachagua cautioned, accusing Kanja of presiding over “goonism and a total breakdown of the rule of law”

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He cited the July 7 Saba Saba protests, claiming police failed to act against looting, destruction, and killings. “To date, no investigations have been conducted, and no one has been charged,” he noted

The DCP leader also warned that IG Kanja could face personal accountability before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for dereliction of duty, drawing parallels to former Police Commissioner Major General Mohammed Ali’s alleged role in the 2007/08 post-election violence

Gachagua added that previous attacks on him and his supporters in April and August 2025 remain unaddressed, reinforcing his claims of systemic bias and negligence within the police service