“No VIP Privileges”: DCI Tells Gachagua Over Assassination Claims
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has taken a firm stance against what it calls “security theatrics” by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, urging him to report any threats to his life through proper legal channels instead of issuing public allegations laced with political undertones.
In a blunt response that appears to strip away the veil of former titles and privilege, DCI Director Mohammed Amin declared that Mr. Gachagua will not receive any special treatment from the police.
Speaking at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, Amin advised the former deputy president to behave like any other citizen and report security threats to the nearest police station.
“The former deputy president should not engage in theatrics about his security. He should report the threats on his life to the nearest police station and he will get assistance,” said Amin. Flanked by Coast regional police boss Ali Nuno and other senior officials, the DCI chief made it clear: rank does not exempt anyone from due process.
Amin emphasized that this was not a personal position, but the official line from the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, and the National Police Service.
Assassination Plot or Political Theater?
Gachagua recently sent shockwaves through the political scene with a letter to the IG that painted a grim picture: alleged assassination attempts, suspicious surveillance, and a deliberate withdrawal of his security detail as part of a larger plot. In the letter, he accused high-ranking security officials—including Kanja himself—of turning a blind eye to coordinated attacks on his life.
“You withdrew my security in a clear thought-out scheme and backward conspiracy to make me vulnerable to organized criminal gangs in cahoots with the police and other security agencies,” Gachagua wrote, demanding that his personal security and protection of his property be immediately restored.
The former DP also claimed that attackers had targeted both his Nairobi and Nyeri homes, and that the people behind the alleged plot were “well known” to the police leadership. But the DCI isn’t buying the drama.
Police Push Back
In response, Amin downplayed the claims as alarmist and politically charged. He insisted that any legitimate security concerns raised by Mr. Gachagua had already been addressed by the Inspector General—and if further issues arise, the proper place to lodge complaints is not at press briefings or on social media, but at a police station like any other Kenyan.
“There are procedures. The law is clear. No one is above it—not even a former deputy president,” Amin stated.
He also dismissed suggestions that Kenya is turning into a lawless state run by gangs, as some have claimed in response to Gachagua’s letter. “The screaming headlines about gangs are not warranted. Granted, we have a few rag-tag criminals. The bank robberies and carjackings are not there,” he added.
A Country on Edge
But not everyone is convinced. A recent report by the National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) noted a disturbing resurgence in gang activity, identifying 309 criminal groups operating in 11 counties. Notorious outfits such as Gaza, 42 Brothers, and Wakali Wao continue to wreak havoc in some regions. Alarmingly, the report found that 82.3% of Kenyans feel unsafe due to the presence of such gangs.
In that context, Gachagua’s claims—whether exaggerated or grounded in truth—tapped into a deep national anxiety. Is Kenya truly secure? And are top politicians using security fears as political leverage?
End of an Era?
Once a heartbeat away from the presidency, Gachagua now finds himself navigating a very different Kenya—one where former titles no longer guarantee immunity or favor. As the DCI draws a clear line between status and accountability, Gachagua is being reminded of a stark reality: in the eyes of the law, VIP privilege stops where public procedure begins.
Whether his claims are a genuine cry for help or a calculated political move remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—the police have closed the door on preferential treatment. For Gachagua, and perhaps others watching, this may mark the beginning of a new chapter in Kenya’s balance of power.
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“No VIP Privileges”: DCI Tells Gachagua Over Assassination Claims
