Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sparked controversy with explosive claims that a rogue unit of 101 officers, allegedly transferred from the Administration Police (AP) to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), is responsible for a wave of abductions and extrajudicial killings targeting Generation Z activists.
The allegations, made during a rally in Banana, Kiambu County, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, have intensified public outrage amid ongoing protests over the death of political blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Speaking to a charged crowd, Gachagua accused the government of orchestrating a sinister campaign to silence dissenting voices, particularly among the youth.
“There is a killer squad of 101 officers ambao walitoka kwa AP wakaingizwa NIS, hao ndo wanafanya abductions na kuua Gen Z’s,” he declared, linking the unit to Ojwang’s death and other disappearances.
He further claimed that both houses of parliament are suppressing efforts to uncover the truth, escalating tensions between his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The allegations come against a backdrop of heightened unrest, with Gen Z-led protests erupting across Kenya following Ojwang’s death. Posts on X have amplified Gachagua’s claims, with some users alleging the squad, reportedly led by an officer named Eliud Lagat, is operating outside the Inspector General’s control.
However, these claims remain unverified, and the National Police Service (NPS) and NIS have not issued an official response.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has confirmed it is investigating Ojwang’s death and related incidents of police brutality during the protests.
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have documented a pattern of excessive force by police in Nairobi’s low-income areas, raising concerns about systemic abuses.
Gachagua’s remarks echo earlier warnings he made on May 19, 2025, when he claimed a plot to poison him involved a similar rogue unit planting arms in his convoy.
Security analyst Chris Otieno described the allegations as a reflection of deep cracks within Kenya’s security apparatus, noting that “the lack of coordination and oversight fuels impunity.”
As protests continue, civil society groups have called for an independent inquiry into Gachagua’s claims and the broader issue of abductions.
The government faces mounting pressure to address allegations of state-sponsored violence, with the European Union and the United States urging transparency.
Kenyans await official responses as the nation grapples with fears of a return to a dark era of extrajudicial killings.
A disturbing video has surfaced, allegedly showing an individual identified as Gaucho assembling a group of youths from Kibera to disrupt peaceful protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Thursday, casting a shadow over claims by government-aligned bloggers that protesters were responsible for the violence.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, reportedly captures Gaucho orchestrating the chaos, including the torching of two vehicles, in what activists claim was a deliberate attempt to discredit the ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
According to sources, the video evidence first emerged following a broadcast on Mutembei TV on Wednesday, where Gaucho was seen stopping at City Hall to deliver a speech.
He was cheered by a group of motorbike-riding youths, who sources now allege were the same individuals later involved in the violent acts.
These youths, described as hired goons, were reportedly tasked with infiltrating the protests to create a narrative of violence, thereby justifying a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.
Activists and eyewitnesses have identified at least five of the individuals involved, all hailing from Kibera, Nairobi’s largest slum.
The named youths were allegedly seen setting fire to two unused vehicles in the CBD during Thursday’s protests, which were organized to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, a political blogger who died in police custody.
The demonstrations, initially peaceful, descended into chaos as police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, while the goons’ actions escalated tensions.
The allegations against Gaucho have fueled public outrage, with many accusing the government of sponsoring the disruption to undermine the protests.
“The government bloggers saying protesters are violent must remember that we know who coordinated the burning of vehicles in town,” said a prominent activist on X, urging authorities to investigate Gaucho and his associates.
Critics argue that the tactic of hiring goons to sabotage protests is not new, pointing to similar incidents during the 2023 anti-government demonstrations and the 2024 #RejectFinanceBill protests.
The National Police Service (NPS) has yet to comment on the allegations against Gaucho or the identified Kibera youths.
However, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) is already investigating the broader context of Thursday’s protests, including the death of Ojwang, which sparked the unrest.
The European Union and the United States have called for a transparent probe into the blogger’s death and the subsequent violence.
As Nairobi braces for potential further demonstrations, civil society groups have condemned the use of hired goons to disrupt civic action, calling for accountability and protection for peaceful protesters.
The incident has intensified demands for reforms to address police conduct and political interference in public demonstrations, with many Kenyans vowing to continue their fight for justice despite the orchestrated chaos.
"There is a killer squad of 101 officers ambao walitoka kwa AP wakaingizwa NIS, hao ndo wanafanya abductions na kuua Gen Z's" – Rigathi Gachagua pic.twitter.com/Wov67Dv0Hc
— KENYA GOSSIP HUB (@kenyasgossips) June 13, 2025
