Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua allies in Murang'a County have decried a sustained crackdown by area security, so far registering one(1) death and 12 arrests.

This has seen the impeached DP political supporters led by Senator Joe Nyutu, Maragua MP Mary wa Maua and Gatanga MP Edward Muriu to demand cessation of hostilities or else they lead area residents to public protests.

Mr Nyutu reported that “this government has since murdered an orphan identified as Dennis Mwangi,28”.

"Mwangi was the only hope for his elderly and ailing grandmother. That is gross," Mr Nyutu said.

Mwangi from Kiharu constituency was reported abducted on December 8, 2024, only to be identified from the mortuary freezers on January 31, 2025.

The government has the support of Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina, Nominated Senator Veronica Maina, Nominated MP Sabina Chege, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi as well as Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo.

While Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata has remained on the side of service delivery, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has remained on the fence, offering no hint on what side of the combat he belongs. 

Kigumo and Kandara MPs Mr Joseph Munyoro and Chege Njuguna respectively, are yet to be seen committed to any wing despite the fact that they both never voted for the Gachagua impeachment motion. The two(2) rarely attend Mr Gachagua ground tours hence leaving their loyalty commitment in doubt.

Interestingly, area security officers boldly confess to be executing the crackdown, a situation that has escalated tensions in a region where Mr Gachagua is perceived to be king.

"We will not allow a situation whereby people just wake up and start peddling unfounded lies against security issues. We summoned some individuals to Maragua Police Station to shed light on some claims they were captured speaking about in public," said Murang'a South Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi.

He was referring to the February 23, 2025, arrest of Peter Mburu 16, Nancy Njoki 24, Ejidia Wairimu 27, and Lucy Njoki 30. The four(4) were accused of being Ms Maua's supporters who in turn is one of Mr Gachagua staunch supporters.

"When I was informed of their arrest, I went to the station where they had been locked up and demanded that they be released and instead I be arrested. I offered to alternatively take them to Mr Gachagua so that they could arrest him instead of harassing his supporters," said Ms Maua.

The four(4) victims narrated to us how a well coordinated contingent of 15 officers burst into their residential homes and plucked them out, blindfolding them and eventually bundling them into waiting cars.

"My family members were left in terror as I was seized like a terrorist, threatened with rifles and all being ordered to remain silent. They told me to bid an eternal farewell to my loved ones since I was to never return home," Ms Njoki said.

Mr Mburu said he was accused of planning to attack president William Ruto loyalists.

"I was told that I was manufacturing bombs to do the attacks as well as recruiting fellow teenagers for the task," Mr Mburu said.

Human rights lawyer Mr Maina Gatundu told AVDelta News that "the situation is dire, the intimidation is real and we have set up a grassroots team to keep vigil on the crackdown that threatens to turn chaotic as residents stage resistance".

He said there was a recent incident at Kenol town where residents attacked four(4) men who had intended to abduct a resident. Ms Maua would further provide details to that.

"It was after the resident screamed that his neighbours turned out armed with crude weapons, attacked the suspected abductors who jumped into their unmarked car and fled from the scene," said Ms Maua.

However, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mr John Kanda said the four(4) were debt collectors whose mission turned violent after they were mistaken for abductors.

However, Mr Mixson Warui 23, has since gone into hiding from his Kamahuha village after he says area DCI called him demanding why he was planning to disrupt pro-government politicians' rallies.

"A well known DCI officer called me asking me to take my measurements to the nearest prison since I would soon end there if I was lucky to escape a bullet to the head. I fled home," Mr Warui said.

Another recent incident involves the arrest of a 23-year-old Eutychus Ngechu who was recently arrested by a dozen heavily armed officers from his Kigumo Constituency home.

Mr Ngechu was driven to Murang'a County police headquarters where he was locked up for more than 48 hours.

The police boss Mr Benjamin Kimwele and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mr Obed Isanda in their brief to Murang'a County Security Committee submitted that Mr Ngechu had been accused by Woman Rep--Ms Maina--of advancing injurious online politics.

"I was told that fighting the government and its pillars is a dangerous thing. They told me that government knows how to fight its opposition," Mr Ngechu said.

He added: "In short, the message they were giving me was that in the eyes of government and its friends, I have to agree to be gagged, lose my free mind that helps me enjoy freedom of speech and right to belong to Gachagua wing," the victim of crackdown said when he was released on a cash bail of Sh20,000.

Mr Mwangi Kifeti who is the chairman of Gachagua followers Murang'a Chapter on Saturday told AVDelta News that he is in hiding after armed, hooded and uniformed men attempted to abduct him last week on Thursday night.

"I've since recorded a police statement at Murang'a Police Station regarding an incident that I nearly got abducted. A Member of Parliament is the one who hid me in his vehicle to escape the attempt at a Mukuyu town-based hotel," he said.

Another Gachagua supporter, Mr Wamuga Mwangi involved in mobilising the ground for Mr Gachagua has also recorded a statement at Kiria-ini Police Station in Mathioya Constituency after similar attack by people he says were riding in unmarked cars and who raided him and took away with his phone, computer, and important files.

"The attackers said they wanted the items to, on behalf of the government, go and get evidence of ‘espionage’. They warned me against supporting activities against the head of state, an accusation that I strongly deny," Mr Wamuga said.

Some of Mr Gachagua senior allies have also reported encountering police hostilities while in Murang'a County.

Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru and his Embakasi North counterpart Mr James Gakuya have in the recent past reported of escaping an abduction plot while driving in Kenol town.

"We were coming from a function in Nyeri County when three(3) unmarked cars blocked us. They swiftly swung our cars' doors open, got in and commanded us to drive towards Nairobi direction. We refused. It was when members of the public got agitated that the officers left," said Mr Gakuya.

Mr Gathiru said "we were saved by the courts after we secured injunctions against police harassment, but to date, most of us keep on noticing trailing as well as receiving threatening strange calls".