NAIROBI, KENYA – National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has publicly accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of orchestrating the violent invasion of the Kenyatta family’s Northlands farm on Monday, March 27, 2023, a claim that escalates the bitter political fallout between the two Mt. Kenya titans.

In a stunning declaration, Ichung’wah alleged that Gachagua, who was Deputy President at the time, summoned him to his Harambee House Annexe office and directed the then Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome, to withdraw security personnel from the property. This action, according to Ichung’wah, facilitated the subsequent invasion by hundreds of goons. The Kikuyu MP claims Gachagua instructed him to publicly warn former President Uhuru Kenyatta about the potential for such an attack, framing it as a public response to the Azimio la Umoja-led anti-government protests, which the government alleged Kenyatta was financing.

“On our way to Kianyaga Boys while on the plane, he told me that since I’m the majority leader, there were things he could not say as deputy president, so I should warn Uhuru to stop destroying property in Nairobi because if he did, their farms would be destroyed by the people,” Ichung’wah stated on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

A Day of Unchecked Violence

The March 2023 raid on the expansive Northlands City property was a shocking display of lawlessness that unfolded over approximately 10 hours. Assailants armed with machetes and power saws breached the perimeter, felling trees, setting fires, and looting livestock. Eyewitnesses reported seeing hundreds of sheep stolen, with some sold for as little as KSh 500. Some invaders even erected makeshift structures, claiming a right to the land as “children of Mau Mau.”

Despite the farm's management alerting local police at Gatong'ora and Mwihoko police stations, no significant state intervention occurred. Private guards reported being turned away by police, who allegedly stated the matter was “beyond them.” Then-Inspector General Koome later claimed there was no prior intelligence of the planned raid, stating security was concentrated in Nairobi to manage the official protests. The attack occurred concurrently with vandalism at the Odinga family-linked East Africa Spectre gas company, fueling opposition claims of a coordinated, state-sanctioned campaign of intimidation.

Deepening Rifts in Mt. Kenya Leadership

Ichung’wah’s accusation is the latest and most severe blow in an escalating war of words with Gachagua, reflecting a profound power struggle for control of the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region. The rivalry, which has simmered for years, intensified following Gachagua's impeachment in October 2024, a move Ichung’wah reportedly supported. Since his ouster, Gachagua has rebranded himself as a regional champion, launching the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and positioning himself in opposition to President William Ruto’s administration.

Analysts view Ichung’wah’s revival of the Northlands raid controversy as a calculated political strike. By linking Gachagua to an act of violent political retribution against the Kenyatta family, Ichung’wah, a staunch ally of President Ruto, aims to portray his rival as a purveyor of chaos and undermine his efforts to consolidate the Mt. Kenya bloc. The feud has been marked by increasingly personal attacks, with the two leaders clashing publicly over accusations of sponsoring violence, promoting tribal politics, and disrespecting the presidency.

An Unresolved Investigation and Lingering Questions

More than two years after the invasion, no individual has been successfully prosecuted for the destruction and looting at Northlands. In May 2023, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki described the raid as a “serious crime” and announced that investigations were ongoing, acknowledging delays due to the “politicization around it.” He promised suspects would be arraigned soon, but no high-profile arrests have been made, leaving a vacuum of accountability that political actors now exploit.

The government's initial silence and the conspicuous absence of a robust police response have long fueled speculation of official complicity. Ichung’wah’s new claims directly implicate the highest levels of the previous government structure, placing the former Deputy President at the center of the plot. Gachagua’s camp has previously dismissed such accusations as state-sponsored diversionary tactics aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

This public feud between two of the region's most powerful figures signals a volatile political realignment. As the 2027 general election approaches, the battle for Mt. Kenya's heartland is set to intensify, with the haunting images of the Northlands raid now serving as potent ammunition in a struggle for political survival and dominance.