Kenyan boxer and fitness personality Gachau has shared details of his long-standing connection to Kenya’s Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, saying their relationship began years ago through school friendships and continued into adulthood.
Speaking during an interview on the Iko Nini TV podcast, Gachau described Kanja not as a public official but as someone he came to know through family connections and personal interactions over the years.
The friendship dates back to his school days when he became close with one of Kanja’s sons.
“I studied with his children. We were in the same circles. Even when I joined college, he hosted me at his home for almost a whole month.”
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Gachau said they had not remained in close contact in recent years but maintained familiarity.
“He is a very good friend of mine. We have not kept in touch lately, but we know each other. I know all his children and they know me too.”
How the friendship began
Explaining how their connection developed, Gachau said he initially became friends with Kanja’s son while they were in school.
At first, the son was one class below him. However, circumstances later placed them in the same class.
“His son was one class behind me, but we were friends from a distance. Then I repeated Form Four because I ended up spending two years in that class. After that, we became classmates and grew closer.”
He said the friendship remained active for years and extended beyond school.
Gachau recalled that before taking part in the Vurugu boxing event, he received encouragement from Kanja.
“Before I went for Vurugu, he contacted me and said, ‘I see there is Vurugu and you are preparing. I wish you well.’”
Douglas Kanja currently serves as Kenya’s Inspector General of Police after formally taking office in September 2024 following parliamentary approval.
Conversations during the Gen Z protests
Gachau also reflected on conversations he had during the nationwide Gen Z demonstrations in 2024, when public attention turned heavily towards police leadership and the conduct of security agencies.
He said he reached out to Kanja’s son to understand how the family was handling the public scrutiny.
“I asked him, with your father being in the spotlight and all eyes on him because he leads the police, what does he say?”
Gachau stressed that his remarks reflected personal impressions rather than statements from Kanja himself.
The response he received suggested that leadership came with pressure and difficult responsibilities.
“He told me, ‘He is having a very hard time. He is serving in a high office and has to move alongside a certain narrative, but he is not at peace.’”
Gachau added that, based on his personal experience, he believes he understands the kind of person Kanja is, while acknowledging the weight that comes with holding one of the country’s most visible public offices.
