DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua has taken aim at Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja over the investigation into the alleged abduction of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, warning that the police probe is unlikely to reveal who was behind the incident.
Gachagua questioned the ability of the National Police Service to carry out a credible investigation, claiming that previous inquiries into deaths, attacks and cases of violence had failed to produce results known to the public.
He spoke on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, shortly after the police announced that investigations had been launched into the reported abduction of Kiprotich in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
“That investigation, like all the others you have ordered, will go nowhere because it was done by police officers outside your command,” Gachagua said on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The former Deputy President accused the police leadership of allowing other senior officials in the Interior Ministry to influence the work of the National Police Service.
Gachagua alleged that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo had taken control of the Service, with the alleged concurrence of President William Ruto.
He further claimed that directions were being passed directly to senior police officers, among them Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and DCI Director Mohamed Amin.
Gachagua also issued a personal warning to Kanja, saying the Inspector General could eventually be held responsible for actions carried out within the police service.
“You are just a flower girl leading a shell, and you will be sacrificed at the right time and blamed for the excesses in the Service,” Gachagua told Kanja.
Gachagua connected Kiprotich’s alleged disappearance to work he claimed the journalist had been doing on compensation involving people who were evicted from the Mau Forest.
He alleged that Kiprotich was preparing an investigative report that would examine the payment of compensation to thousands of people affected by the evictions.
According to Gachagua, the report was expected to expose alleged financial irregularities in the compensation process, including claims that millions of shillings had been channelled away through officials, brokers and proxies.
He further alleged that President Ruto held a late-night meeting with Murkomen on Monday, September 1, 2026, after which a decision was allegedly made to stop Kiprotich from publishing the report.
Gachagua also claimed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had been monitoring Kiprotich before his alleged abduction.
He accused a team allegedly coordinated by retired police officer Zachary Kariuki of being involved in the incident.
The claims made by Gachagua have not been independently established in his statement and would need to be confirmed through investigations by the relevant authorities.
Gachagua also turned his attention to several earlier cases, challenging Kanja to make public the findings of investigations into the death of Rachel Wandeto.
He also demanded answers on investigations involving attacks at Witima ACK Church, Mwiki PCEA Church and Kariobangi PCEA Church.
The former Deputy President further questioned what had become of investigations into violence reported in Ol Kalou.
He said the failure to publicly share the outcome of such investigations had raised questions about the ability of the police to investigate cases involving its own officers and senior officials.
“You cannot investigate your seniors, and police cannot investigate themselves,” Gachagua said.
He also criticised the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, claiming that the body was no longer operating effectively.
Gachagua went on to allege that the rule of law had been suspended, while warning police leaders about possible accountability over alleged violations of human rights.
“I can see you crying at the International Criminal Court in The Hague next year,” he told Kanja.
Police launch Kiprotich investigation
Gachagua’s criticism came after the National Police Service announced that Kanja had ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged abduction of Kiprotich.
The journalist was reportedly abducted in Gilgil, where heavily armed individuals were said to have ordered occupants out of a vehicle.
The NPS said investigators had been directed to establish exactly what happened during the incident and identify the people involved.
The Service said the Anti-Abduction Unit, which deals with cases involving abductions and disappearances, had taken up the investigation.
It said the unit would pursue those responsible for the incident.
“The NPS treats kidnapping and abduction with the utmost seriousness, as these grave offences threaten the lives, liberty and security of Kenyans,” the Service said in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The police said they had received reports concerning Kiprotich’s kidnapping on Tuesday and acted to establish the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The Service also condemned kidnapping, abduction and intimidation when used to interfere with press freedom or other rights protected by the Constitution.
“The Service guarantees a transparent investigation into the Gilgil incident, affirming that no one is above the law,” the statement said.
The police response now comes under scrutiny following Gachagua’s criticism, with the former Deputy President questioning whether the investigation can deliver answers while being conducted within the same Service he has accused of failing to deal with previous cases.