Political allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have raised alarm over what they perceive as increasing interference by security agencies in political, religious, and cultural activities across Kenya. The concerns were voiced by several political leaders, including Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wa Muchomba, who led the group of legislators in condemning what they believe to be a worrying trend towards a police state.
The political leaders, who appear to be aligned with the opposition or critical of the current administration, expressed concerns that citizens are now being forced to seek permission from the police before carrying out even basic activities. This, they argue, threatens the democratic rights enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution, including the right to freely assemble, worship, and participate in cultural activities without state interference.
Speaking at the Regional Criminal Investigation Headquarters in Nyeri, MP Wa Muchomba emphasized that the Constitution guarantees Kenyan citizens the freedom to engage in religious, cultural, and social activities without intimidation. She pointed out that the increasing frequency of arbitrary arrests and the use of police officers to intimidate those who criticize the government has made many people fearful of exercising their constitutional rights.
“We cannot be going to the courts every day to get court orders to allow us to go to church, attend funerals, or weddings. The Constitution of Kenya has given us these rights, and they must be protected,” Wa Muchomba said. She further reminded the police that while they are mandated to do their work, they are not authorized to interfere with the social and religious lives of Kenyans.
The MP’s concerns come in the wake of a violent incident at a funeral in Limuru, where former Deputy President Gachagua and mourners were reportedly attacked by suspected goons. In the aftermath, Gachagua’s political allies, including Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa, Juja MP George Koimburi, former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, and other political leaders from the Mount Kenya region, were summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to provide information on the attack.
Thang’wa, who expressed frustration at being summoned to Nyeri despite the incident occurring in Kiambu County, said that the situation had become a tool of intimidation rather than a genuine attempt to gather information. “We are not going to be cowed or stopped from fighting for our people. They can send us to the DCI 101 times, but we will comply because we know this is part of an intimidation campaign to silence us,” Thang’wa stated.
The legal team representing the lawmakers has also been vocal in defending their clients. Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru accused the government of using the DCI’s investigations to harass and intimidate political leaders from the Mount Kenya region. He expressed confidence that the region’s political alignment had shifted, and despite ongoing attempts at intimidation, the leaders would not be silenced. “We are ready to face our accusers head-on. The mountain is gone. There is no amount of intimidation that will reverse the situation,” Njiru declared.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo also weighed in, dismissing the DCI’s investigations into the Limuru incident as a “sham.” Maanzo argued that instead of prosecuting the attackers, the government was using its power to intimidate the victims. He further stated that his legal team had already moved to the High Court to ensure that the true perpetrators of the attack are brought to justice, rather than allowing the government to shield them.
“The investigations are calculated to protect those who attacked people at a funeral in Limuru. We are committed to ensuring that the High Court petition is prosecuted, and that justice is served,” Maanzo emphasized.
These developments are seen as part of an ongoing struggle between the government and political figures in the Mount Kenya region, who feel increasingly sidelined and oppressed. The issue has sparked widespread concern about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Kenya, with many fearing that the country is sliding into a state where dissent is not tolerated, and constitutional rights are disregarded.
As the political situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the courts and the wider public will respond to these allegations of police intimidation and interference in Kenya’s political and social life.
