Tensions within Kenya’s political sphere have reached a fever pitch following a violent disruption of a Linda Mwananchi movement rally in Nyahururu on Sunday. Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech has publicly blamed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for the chaos, alleging that the former DP’s recent rhetoric and “warnings” directly incited the attacks.
The confrontation, which saw Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata’s driver, Gitari, shot and left in critical condition with a projectile lodged in his chest, has sent shockwaves through the country. The Linda Mwananchi team, led by Governor Kang’ata, was targeted by stone-throwing mobs as they attempted to conduct campaign activities in Nyahururu and the broader Ol Kalou constituency ahead of the July 16 parliamentary by-election.
Speaking in a televised interview on Monday, July 13, 2026, MP Nelson Koech, who chairs the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, labeled Gachagua’s recent public warnings to Governor Kang’ata—advising him against visiting Ol Kalou—as thinly veiled threats. Koech argued that these utterances were intended to intimidate political opponents and effectively green-lighted the violence that followed.
“Gachagua cannot be allowed to threaten Kenyans through chaos similar to that of 2007,” Koech stated during the interview. “His inflammatory language and pattern of behavior are designed to foster instability. He must be held accountable for the mayhem being witnessed.”
The allegations come amidst a backdrop of extreme volatility in the region. Governor Kang’ata has detailed a harrowing series of events, claiming that his convoy was blocked, his vehicles confiscated by unidentified goons, and his team subjected to continuous attacks during their church visits and campaign stops.
While Gachagua has previously claimed he was merely issuing a “private caution” based on intelligence, critics and political allies alike are calling for an immediate investigation into the orchestration of the violence. As the July 16 by-election approaches, the security situation remains fluid, with national leaders calling for calm to prevent further bloodshed in a race that has become a flashpoint for escalating political rivalry.
Leave a Reply