Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has raised serious concerns over the alleged use of a police unit known as the Operation Support Unit (OSU) against political opponents of President William Ruto’s administration.
In an interview with NTV on August 10, Kalonzo claimed that the little-known unit has been involved in intimidating and harassing people who remain critical of the government.
He alleged that some members of the unit work together with groups he described as goons and militias to target opposition supporters.
Kalonzo, who previously served as Kenya’s Vice President, said the alleged activities of the unit should worry Kenyans because they could undermine political freedoms and the rule of law.
He claimed that some of his supporters have come under pressure because of their continued involvement in opposition politics.
“I have to tell you something. Did you know there’s a police unit called OSU, the Operation Support Unit, a unit that is working with the goons, the militias, to terrorise political opponents,” Kalonzo said during the interview.
The Wiper leader went further by comparing what he described as the conduct of the unit to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been accused of serious human rights abuses during the conflict in Sudan.
The comparison reflected the seriousness of Kalonzo’s concerns over the alleged role of the police unit.He also claimed that some members of OSU had been armed and were being deployed to deal with political opponents in different parts of the country.
Kalonzo also spoke about an incident involving Urbanus Wambua, a nominated member of the Makueni County Assembly popularly known as Kanzala Kana.
According to reports, Wambua was being sought by police over a video that allegedly contained incendiary remarks directed at leaders associated with President Ruto.
Wambua was arrested on August 6 as detectives investigated the video, which had circulated widely online.
He was later released from Muthaiga Police Station following Kalonzo’s intervention. He is reportedly now at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters with his lawyers.
Kalonzo said he had personally sheltered the MCA at his home after learning that officers were looking for him.
He presented the incident as an example of what he believes is the growing pressure facing government critics.
The Wiper leader has now called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to investigate the allegations and disband OSU. He argued that allowing the unit to continue operating in the manner he described could create fear among political opponents and raise wider concerns about Kenya’s security institutions.
“I can tell you for a fact, because I’ve been in government, and I want to encourage the Inspector General of Police to disband that thing very quickly,” Kalonzo said.
His allegations are likely to add to the wider debate over the conduct of security agencies and the treatment of opposition figures in Kenya.
