Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has escalated his feud with the state, writing to Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to demand urgent action against what he describes as a rising tide of politically-motivated violence targeting him. In a letter dated Monday, December 1, 2025, Gachagua warned that a culture of goonism was taking root, pushing the country towards a dangerous state of anarchy.

This formal complaint follows a chaotic incident on Sunday, November 30, where a church thanksgiving service in Kariobangi North, attended by Gachagua, was violently disrupted. Eyewitnesses reported that youths armed with crude weapons stormed the PCEA Berea Parish compound on motorbikes, attacking congregants and injuring at least four people. The violence, which forced police to fire teargas, has intensified concerns over the weaponization of youth gangs for political ends.

A Pattern of Unresolved Attacks

In his letter, Gachagua catalogued at least ten separate incidents over the past year where his events have been violently targeted, claiming these cases remain unresolved despite being reported. He accused the police under Kanja's leadership of being the "weakest link" in stopping political violence, alleging that officers have at times worked in concert with the attackers. Among the events cited were:

• **November 28, 2024:** An alleged attack by organized gangs during a funeral in Limuru, Kiambu County.
• **December 28, 2024:** A teargas canister was reportedly thrown towards him and his supporters in Nyandarua.
• **March 23, 2025:** Chaos inside ACK St. Peter's Cathedral in Nyeri, where worshippers were reportedly injured.
• **November 30, 2025:** The most recent attack at a church in Kariobangi North, where women and children were affected.

Gachagua's plea for action comes just as President William Ruto publicly ordered IG Kanja to arrest and prosecute individuals sponsoring political violence. While welcoming the directive, Gachagua expressed skepticism, urging the police chief to provide a clear plan on how the National Police Service will tackle these specific complaints and restore public confidence in their safety at political and religious gatherings.

The Broader Political Context

The escalating violence occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions following recent by-elections, which were themselves marred by chaos and intimidation in several parts of the country. Gachagua, who has been without his state security detail since late 2024, has previously accused the government of a deliberate scheme to make him vulnerable. In April 2025, the police service responded to similar concerns by advising the former DP to liaise with officers for security arrangements and to notify them of his movements in advance.

For ordinary Kenyans, the rise in political thuggery is a worrying echo of past election cycles. The disruption of community events, from church services to funerals, directly impacts their safety and freedom of assembly. The sight of armed youths clashing openly raises the stakes for families and small businesses, threatening to turn political competition into street-level conflict.

As the nation looks towards 2027, Gachagua's letter puts the Inspector-General in the spotlight, challenging him to demonstrate impartiality and decisiveness. With the police yet to formally respond to the latest letter, the public remains watchful, waiting to see if the President's directive will translate into tangible arrests and a de-escalation of the political temperature.