Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has leveled sensational allegations against government agencies, claiming over 200,000 gas cylinders confiscated from small-scale traders were illegally funneled to political actors and distributed as voter inducements during the recent Ol Kalou by-election.

Addressing the media at his Karen residence on Wednesday, Gachagua alleged that a systematic, state-sanctioned crackdown targetting small-scale LPG retailers took place between June and October 2025 across Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Machakos.

He claimed the operations bypassed standard enforcement protocols, leaving local businesses crippled without official inventories or police Occurrence Book (OB) entries.

According to the former DP, the raids were carried out by an un-gazetted police unit stationed in Hurlingham under OCS Robert Linyiru Gituma, supported by Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat and private supervisor Clive Mutiso.

He further implicated senior Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) officials, including Director General Joseph Oketch and Enforcement Chief Maj (Rtd.) Augustine Ouma, accusing them of leaking point-of-sale intelligence to target licensed traders.

Gachagua claimed the seized stock was diverted to private LPG enterprises in Kitengela linked to state figures before resurfacing on campaign trails.

He noted that Ol Kalou residents were handed these very cylinders under the guise of government development initiatives ahead of the poll.

Demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of top EPRA leadership, Gachagua called for full compensation for the affected small traders and a return of the confiscated property.