The political fault lines in Kenya widen as the Deputy President details a coordinated police operation to bar him from addressing the public.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has formally accused the state security apparatus of sabotage. In a detailed statement regarding the events of January 30, Gachagua described how his convoy was systematically blocked at the Nyandarua-Nakuru border, preventing him from attending a scheduled church service and rally in Naivasha. The allegation is severe: that the police are no longer servants of the law, but enforcers of a political agenda.

According to Gachagua, the orders to block him did not come from the standard chain of command but were the result of "interference" by political actors who view his popularity in the Mount Kenya region as a threat.

The Constitutional Crisis

The standoff raises immediate constitutional questions. The Deputy President is a protected office, yet Gachagua describes an environment where he is treated as a security risk by his own government. "The police leadership gave firm assurances," he stated, referring to earlier talks with IG Kanja, "but those assurances have been disregarded."

• The Naivasha Incident: Eyewitnesses at the Kinamba Trading Centre reported a heavy police presence meant to intimidate supporters. The use of roadblocks to restrict the movement of a sitting Deputy President is unprecedented in recent Kenyan history.
• The Widening Rift: This incident confirms that the split between Gachagua and the President’s inner circle is now irreparable. The police have become the pawn in a high-stakes power struggle.

A Dangerous Precedent

If the police can blockade the Deputy President with impunity, the rule of law is in jeopardy. Gachagua’s public outcry is not just a complaint; it is a warning that the institutions of state are being hollowed out for political expediency.

As the political temperature rises, the road to Nakuru has become a symbol of a divided nation.