This man Kanja: Is he no longer in charge?

Police IG Douglas Kanja. [File, Standard]

The National Police Service (NPS) is once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Before the country could fully process the incident in Nandi, where rogue officers raided a centre and unleashed chaos, police have again been implicated in violence—this time directed at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Although senior police officials vowed to take action, three days later, neither have the alleged goons been arrested nor have the officers accused of escorting them been interdicted.

Gachagua claims that police officers drawn from Othaya and Maragua police stations, under the command of two security aides attached to Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, escorted goons ferried from Murang’a to attack him and congregants at Witima Church.

“The police officers John Maina alias Birash and Peter Wainaina Kabuga, attached to Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, commanded police officers and goons led by Ambrose Manyeki from Murang’a. They converged at Kamunyaka, the home of Mathira MP Eric Wa Mumbi, for a briefing and breakfast before proceeding to Witima Church,” Gachagua alleged.

The incident sparked public outrage, with various institutions calling for swift investigations and accountability. However, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and his team are yet to act, raising questions over whether the police command is fully in control of its officers.

This is neither the first nor the second such case of alleged police brutality reported in recent weeks.

Following the Nandi incident, police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga issued a strongly worded statement condemning the brutality and promising swift investigations.

“The NPS is appalled by what has been depicted and unequivocally condemns such barbaric behaviour, which has no place in a civilised society. The Inspector General has personally reviewed the disturbing footage and ordered a comprehensive and swift investigation. The Internal Affairs Unit has three days to finalise its work,” said Muchiri.

Last week, police were again accused of misconduct in Thika, where two young men playing pool were arrested after allegedly being assaulted by officers.

Security analyst George Musamali said the police operate within a strict hierarchy and that nothing occurs in a vacuum.

“If an order is given, it flows from the top—Vigilance House—through the chain of command to the area OCS. Nothing happens without signed documentation,” he said.

He added that no police officer is allowed to conduct an operation in civilian clothing.

“On the issue of plain-clothes officers spotted during the church attack, no police officer is permitted to carry out an operation in civilian clothes. They must be fully kitted,” Musamali said.

Efforts to reach the Inspector General were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly out of the country on an official trip to Japan.

A screengrab showing police in plain clothes and goons charging toward congregants at Witima ACK Church in Othaya where former Rigathi Gachagua was attending a service. [UGC]

Muchiri said both the Nandi and Witima Church incidents are being handled by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

“We are providing support to the independent body, just as we are in the Witima Church case. These are incidents that must be conclusively dealt with. The Internal Affairs Unit is working jointly with IPOA,” he said.

The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Mt Kenya West Bishop Gerald Muriithi has also blamed police officers and goons for the Witima Church mayhem, holding them responsible for the desecration of the church.

Despite claims by both opposition and government-allied leaders that they possess evidence linking rival camps to the violence, the National Police Service has maintained a conspicuous silence.

As pressure mounts, some youths named in connection with the chaos—which left several people injured and others affected by teargas—have denied involvement.

Among them is former nominated MCA in Murang’a County Assembly Habire Chege, who said he was in Ruiru, Thika, at the time.

“It is unfair to tarnish my name when my WhatsApp status clearly showed I was at Ruiru Prison grounds playing football with my team, Bomani FC. We shall meet in court,” he wrote in a popular WhatsApp group.

He added: “It is sad and hurtful for individuals to involve me in lies and baseless accusations. As a son and a father, I condemn the events in Othaya. However, it is unacceptable for anyone to use politics to tarnish my name.”

A screengrab showing police in plain clothes and goons charging toward congregants at Witima ACK Church in Othaya where former Rigathi Gachagua was attending a service. [UGC]

In an interview with The Standard, Ambrose Manyeki, a blogger and supporter of the Murang’a Woman Representative, denied being in Othaya during the incident.

He claimed he was being targeted due to his political support for President William Ruto’s re-election.

“Because of my political support for Maina, people wrongly assume I work in her office. That is not true. I only blog for her and the government. It was a Gachagua ally—well known to me—who started claiming he saw me in Othaya and even mentioned me by name,” he said.

Victims have recounted harrowing experiences, describing how armed men wearing ski masks and balaclavas descended on them, assaulting them with kicks, blows and gun butts.

Theuri Wanjiru, a DCP coordinator who alleges he was assaulted by two police officers attached to the Murang’a Woman Representative, said he recognised his attackers.

“They are people I know. We have dined together before. Maina once belonged to our political camp, but that did not stop them from beating me with clubs and guns. They stripped me and threatened to castrate me,” Wanjiru said.

While the accused officers were unreachable yesterday, Mathira MP Eric Wa Mumbi defended his wife’s security detail.

“For the record, the police officers attached to my wife are lawfully deployed officers of the National Police Service. Attempts to criminalise lawful security deployment are dishonest and dangerous,” he said.

Wa Mumbi accused Gachagua of using his aide, Samuel Mwangi, alongside an interdicted police officer, to supply guns and teargas in a bid to frame the police and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Although the MP said he would record a statement on Monday, he did not do so.

An unidentified person suspected to be a plainclothes police officer with a gun at Witima Church in Othaya where the former Dp Rigathi Gachagua was attacked, on 25 January,2026. [Kibata Kihu, Standard]

Mwangi, alias Kifeeti, dismissed the allegations.

“What Wa Mumbi said about me is completely untrue,” he said, adding that he had reported the matter to the police and feared for his life.

Further questions have been raised over a government vehicle, registration number GK 765X, and a matatu belonging to Namu Sacco, registration KDR 467N, both of which were reportedly present at the scene.

Initially, Namu Sacco denied that its vehicle was at the church.

“We challenge those making these allegations to provide credible evidence, including the vehicle’s registration number,” the Sacco said.

However, after photographs of the vehicle circulated online, the Sacco  suspended the matatu and its driver.

“This is to inform the public that vehicle registration KDR 467N and its driver, Paul Njoroge Ndegwa, have been suspended from operating under Namu Supreme Shuttle Ltd pending investigations,” the management said.

Namu Shuttle Operations Manager Antony Ngonyo said the suspension followed failed attempts to reach the driver and co-owners.

“The driver’s phone is off, and so is that of the co-owner. Since we could not get their account, we suspended the vehicle for seven days,” he said.

Ngonyo added that the initial denial was based on the driver’s claim that the vehicle had been operating along the Murang’a–Kigumo route.

As Kenyans wait, attention remains on whether police will act on their assurances and bring to justice those responsible for acts that threatened freedom of worship.