The United Opposition has declared it will cease engaging with the Inspector General of Police’s office and instead commence private criminal proceedings against twelve police officers and two Members of Parliament regarding the assault at Witima ACK Church and an alleged assassination attempt targeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a firm statement signed by Gachagua alongside Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), and Fred Matiang’i (Jubilee), the coalition expressed its loss of confidence in the National Police Service (NPS) leadership and announced it would discontinue further meetings with IG Douglas Kanja.
“The United Alternative Government hereby declares that we shall not be returning to the office of the Inspector General of Police,” the leaders stated, indicating a complete breakdown in cooperation with the police command.
The opposition noted that their initial meeting with Kanja occurred at Jogoo House in Nairobi on January 30, 2026, following what they characterized as a violent attack at Witima ACK Church in Othaya and an assassination attempt on Gachagua.
They claimed they departed the meeting under the impression that investigations would proceed independently, but a scheduled follow-up two weeks later did not take place after the IG supposedly became unavailable.
“We have however since been reliably informed that investigations into the Witima ACK Church attack have in fact been concluded. The perpetrators have been identified: twelve police officers who executed the attack using two Land Cruiser vehicles from Nairobi. The financiers have also been identified: two Members of Parliament from Murang’a and Nyeri counties,” read the statement.
“We further understand that the investigative file was ready for transmission to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Shockingly, that file has reportedly been intercepted by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, with instructions that no prosecution shall take place.”
They described the alleged action as interference with justice, criticizing CS Murkomen for criminal abuse of power and alleged use of government mechanisms to protect the mentioned perpetrators from accountability.
Consequently, the opposition announced it would pursue private prosecution, relying on constitutional and statutory provisions that permit individuals or entities to initiate criminal proceedings when the State fails to act.
“The United Alternative Government hereby declares that we shall, without further delay, initiate private prosecutions against: all twelve (12) police officers who participated in the Witima ACK Church attack and the attempted assassination of Rigathi Gachagua; the two (2) Members of Parliament who financed and facilitated this criminal operation,” read the statement.
They affirmed that the criteria for private prosecution had been satisfied, arguing that the public prosecution authority had not only failed to act but had been “actively instructed not to act.”
Simultaneously, the coalition notified the police about planned political gatherings in Nairobi, Kisii, Nyamira and Nakuru, warning against interference with what they described as lawful assemblies protected under Article 37 of the Constitution.
They accused security agencies of past intimidation and stated they would document and challenge any future disruptions.
“Let it be clear: we will not legitimise inertia, obstruction, or political interference by continuing to make ceremonial visits to an office that has chosen silence over accountability,” the leaders said.
They added that justice for the victims of the church attack would proceed “with or without the cooperation of a compromised Inspector General.”