DAP-K party has shared images on X showing police officers standing casually alongside armed individuals carrying batons during the chaotic buildup to Rigathi Gachagua’s rally in Kikuyu on Saturday.
The photos went viral within minutes and sparked fierce outrage from Kenyans who viewed them as evidence of state security being compromised during the political event.
The individuals seen alongside the officers are suspected to be among the same group that earlier blocked sections of the Southern Bypass near Thogoto and Gitaru, harassed motorists, and contributed to morning disruptions.
Critics have described the images as a serious indictment of how security forces were deployed during the incident.
DAP-K stated that the use or association of state security with armed groups undermines constitutional order and violates the principles of impartial policing.
The party insisted that police, as custodians of public safety, must remain neutral and not be seen to support or tolerate intimidation of citizens exercising their democratic rights.
Despite the tensions, Gachagua and the united opposition team later arrived in Kikuyu town to a large reception from supporters who had gathered despite hours of disruption.
Supporters waved DCP and opposition flags as the convoy made its way through Gitaru into the constituency centre.
Addressing the gathering, Gachagua urged supporters who had scattered after teargas was fired to remain calm and avoid panic.
In remarks that drew comparisons to similar statements by opposition leaders during past chaotic rallies, he encouraged supporters to stay firm and not disperse.
Earlier in the day, unidentified individuals had erected illegal roadblocks along the Southern Bypass, demanding money from motorists and disrupting traffic flow for several hours.
Police responded with teargas and warning shots, dispersing both the blockers and crowds of supporters, leading to confusion and reported injuries.
Gachagua had previously warned security authorities that organized disruption could be used to sabotage the rally. The emergence of the photos has intensified political debate over the role of security agencies in managing opposition gatherings.
The rally eventually proceeded, with Gachagua addressing supporters on economic challenges, governance issues, and the right to peaceful assembly, stating that intimidation would not silence political expression ahead of future elections.
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