NPS Issues Warning Ahead of November 27 By-Elections

The National Police Service (NPS) has given an assurance to the Kenyans that it is well equipped to offer security and keep the order during the forthcoming November 27 by-elections.

In a release dated Thursday, November 13, the service said that it has helped come up with a detailed and well-coordinated security plan with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The plan is meant to provide peaceful elections before, during, and after elections, according to the NPS.

The agency emphasized that its preparedness is in line with its constitutional responsibility in order to protect the safety of all citizens and property within the nation. The statement added that the security plan is multi-layered, which combines different units of the law enforcers to ensure free, fair, and credible polls.

The statement added that the National Police Service would be fully prepared to give the best security possible before, during, and after the upcoming by-elections and that it was fully committed to ensuring it did so. As per our constitutional mandate, we have been able to come up with an effective multi-faceted security plan, which we have made to work hand in hand with the IEBC to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully, free, fair and credible.

With the escalation of the campaigns in regions that are going to by-elections, the NPS encouraged all political aspirants, their supporters, and agents to behave in a dignified manner.

The service promised not to shy away from taking decisive action against any individual or organization involved in unlawful practices that are leading to insecurity in societies or the integrity of an election process.

It highlighted the fact that violence, incitement, hate speech, property destruction, and any other attempt to intimidate others will be subject to legal action.

The NPS requests all political contenders, their supporters, and agents to carry out their campaigns in a peaceful, responsible, and law-abiding manner.

The statement further encouraged politicians to encourage peace and tolerance and be cognizant that any criminal activities will attract the full wrath of the law.

The NPS message follows one day after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachigua raised an alarm in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja of increasing threats of violence in the coming by-election in the Mbeere North Constituency. On Wednesday, November 12, Gachagua requested the police to take urgent measures against those people who were identified in a viral social media video that allegedly gave threats of violence in the run-up to the November 27 polls.

Gachagua had accused a number of people who he said were perpetrators of the threats, among them Simon Njagi Njiru, better known as Gitundu wa Gitundu; Josiah Kariuki Ngari who was also referred to as Mtetezi Puff and Susan Nyaga.

In his view, the people had intimidated him personally, and those living in Mbeere North in case he tried to campaign in favor of his candidate between November 16 and 24, 2025.

The above persons are not arraigned yet the evidence and information was in your custody, Gachagua wrote. We require these men to be arrested and arraigned forthwith and prosecuted under the Penal Code.

He also claimed that some of the people in the video are the close associates of top government officials, namely Mbarire and Ruku. Gachagua demanded that Mbeere North residents should be given the freedom to vote without being intimidated and interfered with.

The letter was strongly worded as he also blamed the Inspector General, claiming that he had neglected to contain increasing insecurity and lawlessness in the country. According to him, this will be remembered in history that you are the only IG in Kenya who sat over epochs and a complete meltdown of the rule of law.

Gachagua wrote to the IG that he is planning to camp in Mbeere North between November 16 and 24 to give support to his candidate, claiming that he is exercising his constitutional rights.

He claimed that he has received credible intelligence that state-aligned groups are already in place and have been organized to interfere with his campaign activities and meddle with the electoral process.

Additionally, I am informing you that we have solid information that the government intends to interfere with the electoral exercise in Mbeere North, something that the citizens of Kenya cannot afford.