Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of creating a secretive police unit responsible for extrajudicial killings in Kenya. While speaking at a church gathering in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua alleged that the unit, made up of 101 specially trained officers, was formed under Ruto’s instructions and backed by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), led by Director General Noordin Haji.
Gachagua linked this alleged squad to the controversial death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody. He claimed that Ojwang’s case is just one among many others, stating that hundreds of young Kenyans have fallen victim to this elite unit through abductions, torture, and murder, acts that he says have been covered up systematically.
“This issue of Ojwang’s death is just the tip of the iceberg,” Gachagua stated. “The President set up this unit, and Kenyans are suffering. He must take full responsibility, and the international community should intervene.”
He further urged that Ruto should face legal consequences for the deaths allegedly linked to this squad, emphasizing that justice must prevail. Gachagua’s remarks have intensified the already growing outrage over police brutality and misuse of power.
Albert Ojwang’s death has drawn significant public attention due to conflicting accounts from authorities. According to sworn testimony by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Director Amin Mohamed, Ojwang was found unconscious in his police cell at 1:39 a.m. on June 8 and taken to Mbagathi Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after 2 a.m.
However, CCTV footage from the hospital contradicts this timeline. The footage shows a police vehicle carrying Ojwang arriving at 1:35 a.m., where he remained inside for 24 minutes before being attended to by medics. The hospital report confirmed that Ojwang was “brought in dead,” with visible injuries including a swollen face, a cold and unresponsive body, and a deep cut on the back of his head.
The suspicious nature of Ojwang’s death has triggered demonstrations and renewed public pressure. Protesters are demanding the arrest of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Kipkoech Lagat, who had filed a defamation complaint that reportedly led to Ojwang’s arrest.
As questions mount and evidence emerges, the call for a transparent investigation continues to grow louder. Gachagua’s explosive claims have added a new layer of urgency to a case that has come to symbolize wider concerns about abuse of power and lack of accountability in Kenya’s security forces.
By Yockshard Enyendi