Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has publicly committed to confronting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of tribalism and relentlessly undermining the national security apparatus.

The political fault lines within the executive branch of Kenya have violently ruptured into public view as Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declared open hostilities against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The confrontation centers on deeply sensitive allegations regarding the politicization of the national security forces.

This public clash is a dangerous escalation in the ongoing power struggle that defines contemporary Kenyan politics. When the individual responsible for internal security openly accuses a former deputy head of state of inciting the public and employing tribal politics, it signals a profound instability that could disrupt the broader governance agenda and unsettle the economic environment of East Africa.

The Anatomy of the Dispute

Speaking forcefully on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Murkomen accused the former Deputy President of unfairly targeting him during ongoing discussions concerning national security reforms. Murkomen articulated that the architecture of security is a complex web involving multiple agencies, yet Gachagua has consistently isolated him and President William Ruto for relentless criticism. The Cabinet Secretary framed these attacks not as genuine policy disagreements, but as calculated ethnic profiling.

The friction reached a boiling point following severe allegations made by the former Deputy President regarding a recent violent incident. Gachagua had sensationally accused President Ruto and Murkomen of orchestrating an unprovoked attack on a church congregation in Witima. Furthermore, he alleged that the executive branch explicitly instructed the Inspector General of Police to shield the offending officers from legal prosecution. These are explosive claims that strike at the very heart of constitutional order and religious freedom.

Defending the Police Inspectorate

In response to the barrage of accusations, Murkomen mounted a vigorous defense of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja. The Interior Cabinet Secretary demanded that Gachagua immediately cease his campaign of vilification against the highest-ranking police officer in the nation. By shielding Kanja, Murkomen is attempting to preserve the institutional integrity of the police service, insisting that the Inspector General serves the collective interests of the Republic, rather than the personal whims of any political faction.

The dynamics of this dispute reveal the immense pressure placed on law enforcement agencies operating within a highly polarized political ecosystem. Key flashpoints in this ongoing saga include:

• The persistent denial of an audience to the United Opposition regarding the investigation into the church teargassing incident.
• The mobilization of political supporters, with Gachagua pledging to lead a massive demonstration of 100,000 citizens to the office of the Inspector General.
• The explicit threat of bringing the commercial activities of the capital city to a complete standstill through organized protests.

The Threat of Mass Mobilization

The promise of a mega-demonstration poses a severe logistical and security challenge for the government. Friday, February 20, looms as a critical test of strength between the state security apparatus and the mobilization capabilities of the former Deputy President. If Gachagua successfully paralyzes Nairobi, it will demonstrate his enduring grassroots influence and further complicate the task of maintaining public order for Murkomen.

The Cabinet Secretary has drawn a definitive line in the sand, rejecting what he terms as silly politics and tribal incitement. He has promised a face-to-face confrontation with those he labels as inciters, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown that transcends mere verbal sparring. The implications for the stability of the ruling coalition and the general peace of the nation are profound.

"Whenever he opens his mouth, it is always Ruto and Murkomen, as if there is nobody else in the architecture of security. We are not going to entertain your tribalism," Murkomen declared, signaling the end of his prolonged silence.