Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has accused President William Ruto of resorting to violence to intimidate opposition leaders, warning that Kenya is entering a dangerous political phase where force is replacing ideas.
Speaking during a media interview on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Nyutu claimed the year began with heightened political tensions, despite hopes for peace and unity among leaders and citizens.
“The President has sponsored violence against us, most recently on Sunday in Gatundu South, targeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This is serious and not unexpected; when ideas are weak, force becomes the preferred tool,” Nyutu stated.
The remarks follow a church event on January 11, 2026, where clashes erupted between rival youth groups outside the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kiamworia, Gatundu South.
Youths armed with sticks caused chaos, prompting police to deploy teargas. The confrontation disrupted traffic along the Kiamworia-Gatundu South road and led to a minibus being vandalised.
Gachagua has warned Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators against enabling goons to sabotage his events, revealing that some PSV owners were unaware their vehicles were being used to transport attackers.
“People had hired over 20 PSV vehicles to ferry goons to attack my supporters. It was only minutes away from disaster,” he said.
Nyutu also criticised President Ruto’s frequent county visits, arguing that development projects should speak for themselves.
He alleged that some attackers were ferried into Gatundu South and operated with impunity, and questioned the police’s role in protecting certain groups.
“The use of violence to suppress dissent threatens democracy. Leaders must allow free expression and healthy competition of ideas. Kenya’s future depends on peace, openness, and respect for differing views,” Nyutu emphasised.
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Politics