A scheduled security meeting turns into a diplomatic fiasco as the Police Inspector General reportedly exits via the back door, leaving Kalonzo, Wamalwa, and Gachagua fuming.

The boardroom at Jogoo House was ready. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-21)The opposition principals were present. But the most important chair—the one belonging to Inspector General Douglas Kanja—remained empty. In a move that has escalated political tensions to a fever pitch, the country's top cop ghosted the very leaders demanding accountability for police excesses.

This is more than a missed appointment; it is a declaration of hostilities. By refusing to engage, the security apparatus is signaling its alignment with the executive, fueling Opposition claims of a police state. With a "100,000-man march" now threatened, the snub has set the stage for a dangerous confrontation.

The "Back Door" Exit

The meeting, scheduled for Monday, February 16, was intended to address a laundry list of grievances: the disruption of political rallies, the alleged use of live ammunition by police, and the resurgence of abductions. Leaders of the United Opposition, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, and Rigathi Gachagua, arrived at Jogoo House expecting a dialogue.

Instead, they were met with silence. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-23)Gachagua later claimed that the IG "escaped through the back door" to avoid facing them. "Tumefika pale akatorokea mlango ya nyuma," (We got there and he ran out the back door), Gachagua told supporters. The imagery of a police chief fleeing from political leaders is damaging, projecting either fear or total disdain for the opposition.

• Date: Monday, February 16, 2026.
• Venue: Jogoo House (NPS Headquarters).
• Attendees (Snubbed): Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Rigathi Gachagua.
• Ultimatum: A march to Police HQ on Friday, Feb 20.

Accountability in Crisis

The snub reinforces the perception that the National Police Service has lost its independence. The opposition argues that the police are now acting on "orders from above" (presumed to be the Ministry of Interior) to stifle dissent. The recent events in Kitengela, where a rally was teargassed and a supporter killed, were the catalyst for this meeting.

By refusing to explain these actions, IG Kanja is effectively stonewalling accountability. It leaves the opposition with few options but to escalate. The threat of a 100,000-strong march to the IG's office is not an idle one; it is a direct challenge to the state's monopoly on violence.

The Road to Friday

The clock is now ticking towards Friday, February 20. The opposition has drawn a line: meet us, or we bring the people to you. If the march goes ahead, Nairobi could be paralyzed. The potential for clashes between protesters and police is high.

IG Kanja's silence may have been intended to dismiss the opposition, but it has had the opposite effect. It has united them and given them a tangible target. The empty chair at Jogoo House now casts a long shadow over the capital.

"You will not hide," Gachagua warned. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-25)"On Friday, we are coming."