Gachagua Ally Abducted in Midnight Raid as Police Accused of Operating Like Thugs

Shock and fear have gripped the family of Peter Kawanjiru, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, after he was allegedly abducted by police in Limuru on Monday night.

Witnesses say more than 10 vehicles stormed the area, followed by gunshots, chaos, and a power blackout. The family claims no arrest warrant was shown, and since then, Kawanjiru has vanished.

As Kenya witnesses a worrying rise in forced disappearances, many believe the abduction was politically motivated, targeting critics of the government.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has faced a barrage of political and legal attacks since leaving office, is yet to issue an official statement. [Photo: Courtesy]

Gachagua Ally Abducted Under Mysterious Circumstances

Tension continues to rise after Gachagua ally Peter Kawanjiru was allegedly abducted by officers believed to be from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). According to his family, the officers stormed their home in Limuru on Monday night, broke down the doors, and forcibly dragged Kawanjiru away.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as terrifying. Over ten unmarked vehicles surrounded the compound at around 8:30 p.m., followed by a sudden blackout. Moments later, loud banging and gunshots echoed through the neighbourhood.

“They said they were from DCI Kiambu Road and were looking for Kawanjiru. When we didn’t open the door, they started hitting it with metal rods,” a family member told NTV.

Kawanjiru, a youth leader in the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has been a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration. He is known for leading grassroots mobilization campaigns under the ‘Wan tam’ slogan—an increasingly popular youth movement expressing dissatisfaction with the current regime.

Despite the violent manner of his arrest, the officers presented no warrant, nor did they explain the reason behind the operation. “I asked them if he had killed or stolen from anyone, but they said, ‘We’re just doing our job,’” said one of Kawanjiru’s relatives.

Family Left in the Dark as Search for Kawanjiru Intensifies

Since Monday night, Kawanjiru’s family has been desperately searching for him across police stations in Kiambu and Nairobi. But no official has confirmed holding him, and no formal charges have been filed.

“We’ve gone from one police station to another, and no one knows anything,” the family said. “It’s like he vanished into thin air.”

This incident has sparked public outrage and concern over growing cases of forced disappearances. Kawanjiru’s supporters and human rights activists say his abduction is the latest in a disturbing pattern targeting critics of the state.

His disappearance closely mirrors that of Juja MP George Koimburi—another Gachagua ally—who was reported missing barely a month ago. At the time, the DCI claimed Koimburi had staged his own abduction, a narrative the MP strongly rejected.

After being found and hospitalized at Karen Hospital, Koimburi described being forcefully taken while leaving a church service. He insisted the ordeal was real and politically motivated.

These back-to-back incidents have raised red flags over the use of state machinery to silence dissenting voices.

Mounting Pressure on State Over Political Intimidation

The alleged abduction of Peter Kawanjiru has ignited a national debate on political repression and the weaponization of security forces.

Kenyans are increasingly speaking out on social media, with hashtags such as #WhereIsKawanjiru and #StopAbductions trending across platforms. Many demand answers from the DCI and Interior Ministry, warning that such incidents are dragging the country back to a dark past.

Civil society groups and legal experts have also condemned the state’s silence. “If police arrested Kawanjiru legally, they must come clean. But if he was abducted, it’s a violation of his rights and the Constitution,” said one Nairobi-based lawyer.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has faced a barrage of political and legal attacks since leaving office, is yet to issue an official statement. However, those close to him say his allies are being systematically hunted down for opposing the ruling coalition.

The UK and other Western embassies have previously warned against the rising trend of police brutality and enforced disappearances in Kenya, urging the government to respect the rule of law and protect civil liberties.

Dr. Ed Barnett, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, recently defended the right to peaceful expression, stating that “no democracy should punish dissent with fear and violence.”

With no word on Kawanjiru’s whereabouts and rising anxiety among the public, pressure is now mounting on the government to account for his safety—and to stop the cycle of illegal arrests and intimidation tactics.