EALA Member of Parliament Kanini Kega says he narrowly escaped an attack along the Ol Kalou–Nyahururu road, alleging that armed men he believes were police officers tried to kill or abduct him.
Kega said the incident happened at about 6:10pm as he left a Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) campaign event in Ol Kalou ahead of Thursday’s by-election.
“I was driving along the Ol Kalou-Nyahururu road when a white double cabin D-Max abruptly stopped in front of us. One person got out and pointed a pistol at me,” Kega said. “My driver swerved and sped off.”
Kega, a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, said a second vehicle, a new grey or black Prado, then blocked them shortly afterward, prompting a high-speed chase.
“We were only lucky that we overtook two trucks and avoided an oncoming vehicle, and they lost us,” he added.
Kega said he told his driver to turn off at the first available junction, and they reached Kasuku Centre before the vehicles caught up again.
“Before we could stop our engine, the vehicles arrived again. I rushed to a shop that was open, and a lady allowed me in and locked the door. I was evacuated through the back door,” he recounted.
Kega said the attackers got out wearing masks, fully camouflaged themselves, and brandished pistols and larger firearms. He added that they shattered the windows of his still-running vehicle, apparently believing someone was inside, before they left the scene after about five minutes.
The lawmaker said he managed to speak to the Inspector General of Police while in hiding. He claimed he asked why police officers were pursuing him and why they wanted to kill him, adding that the officer told him he did not know the men involved. Kega said the incident appeared to involve officers acting on instructions from elsewhere.
Kega thanked officers who responded from the area, but he insisted that his pursuers had a single goal. He said they either wanted to kill him or abduct him, and he believed his political opponents had “sensed defeat” and were trying to intimidate DCP supporters.
In remarks addressed to President William Ruto, Kega said the operation failed. He told the president that officers he believed were sent after him could not carry out their mission because, as he put it, God protected him. Kega warned that if the government continued using what he described as such tactics, the country would face serious consequences.
He also vowed that DCP would stay in the by-election and protect voters. “We are not leaving Ol Kalou, and we will protect the vote. Lazima tutalinda kura yetu,” he said.
Kega further claimed that residents believed police were behind the attack. He said people were saying officers wanted to kill him, while also noting that no shots were fired, but a bullet was reportedly found.
