Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is under investigation by the police in connection with the chaos that unfolded during a burial event in Limuru on November 28, 2024. The incident, which left several mourners injured and Gachagua’s vehicles damaged, has raised serious questions about the level of violence involved and the role of state agents in orchestrating the disturbance.
The burial, held at the Bibirioni Boys High School playground, was initially intended as a solemn occasion for the family of the late Erastus Nduati. However, it quickly devolved into violence as suspected goons armed with machetes, stones, and iron bars descended on the mourners. In the chaos that ensued, Gachagua, who was in attendance, narrowly escaped harm as his vehicles were targeted. The attack also saw women and children among those injured as they fled the scene.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, which includes claims of malicious damage to property and injuries inflicted on those present. However, the investigation has taken a politically charged turn, with Thang’wa being summoned by the Nyeri Regional Criminal Investigations office on November 29. Despite the summons, Thang’wa voiced his frustration over the police’s refusal to meet with him at the CID headquarters in Kiambu. He pledged to comply with the summons and appeared determined to challenge the investigation’s handling.
“We are not intimidated by this. We will meet them in Nyeri at 10 a.m. tomorrow,” Thang’wa said, reflecting the mounting tension surrounding the investigation.
The political stakes are high in the aftermath of the Limuru chaos. Gachagua’s allies, including Thang’wa and Nyandarua Senator John Methu, have alleged that the attack was not a spontaneous act of violence but a well-orchestrated attempt to harm Gachagua. They claim that the goons who attacked the burial were ferried from neighboring constituencies by agents of the state, with the intention of creating chaos and causing physical harm to the former DP.
The accusations also extend to the arrest of former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, who was allegedly abducted during the chaos. According to Thang’wa, Mwathi was taken by men in unmarked vehicles, and his whereabouts remain unknown. Thang’wa expressed anger at the lack of transparency in the handling of the case, accusing the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of refusing to provide answers. Methu, in his statement, described the incident as a close call for Gachagua, noting that the former DP was lucky to have escaped with his life.
In a related development, Gachagua himself has raised concerns about the government’s actions prior to the incident. He revealed that the state had recently withdrawn the final aspects of his security detail, which he believes left him vulnerable to attack. Gachagua stated that although he had not previously protested the removal of his security, he now suspects that it was a deliberate attempt to expose him to harm.
“This withdrawal of my security appears to have been aimed at facilitating such an attack,” Gachagua said, condemning the government’s role in the event.
The attack has sparked outrage among Gachagua’s supporters, who argue that the government’s actions were politically motivated. They contend that the incident was not just an assault on Gachagua but an affront to the Kenyan people, as it occurred during a moment of grief for the Nduati family. The mourners were reportedly forced to flee for their lives in the midst of their sorrow, an experience Gachagua decried as shameful.
“The family that was mourning had to run to safety, despite their profound grief,” Gachagua lamented. “This is a low point for the state, and we will not be intimidated.”
As the investigation continues, Thang’wa’s summons and the allegations of state involvement are expected to add further political pressure on both the police and the government. The incident has fueled a growing narrative of political unrest and state interference, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will address the escalating concerns from Gachagua’s allies. For now, the families involved and the nation await clarity on the motives behind the violence that marred what should have been a peaceful funeral.
