Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Details have emerged of how detectives tried to stop a Nairobi-based church from hosting impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for a church service at Kahawa West, Roysambu Constituency on Sunday.
Bishop JJ Gitahi, founder of the Priesthood Fellowship Church, told the congregation on Sunday that the government had tried to cancel Mr Gachagua's appearance, claiming that hosting him would amount to incitement and disrupt peace in the area.
Priesthood Fellowship Church is located a few metres from Kahawa West roundabout and its founder, a close ally of Mr Gachagua, is a popular pastor who made his name through motivational talks, especially on vernacular radio stations.
Mr Gitahi, through the church secretary-general to the board Stephen Wainaina, told Nation. Africa after the service that detectives raided Mr Gitahi’s Membley residence in Ruiru, Kiambu County, seeking to know why he was hosting Mr Gachagua.
The detectives, who had unmarked Subaru cars, termed Mr Gachagua's presence as a breach of national security and that his presence was likely to incite the local community against the government.
"The detectives arrived at Mr Gitahi's residence in Membley at around 8am Sunday. They were in Subaru cars and sought audience with Mr Gitahi on why he was hosting Mr Gachagua saying he intends to incite the people," Mr Wainaina told the Nation.
“The bishop stood his ground, insisting that Mr Gachagua's presence was a normal church service like any other and after a few minutes, they left.”
After the incident, Mr Wainaina said, Pastor Gitahi had to switch vehicles because he had been informed that the detectives were trailing him.
DCI: 'We're not involved'
However, when the Nation.Africa reached the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the agency denied the bishop's claims.
"The DCI has no business interfering with church affairs."
When he rose to speak during the church service, Mr Gachagua said it was disheartening that some leaders from the Mount Kenya region could betray its own people, referring to how a majority of them supported his impeachment.
He said, his silence should not be construed as foolishness or cowardice as maintained that he is consulting widely, both the clergy and political class as well as Kenyans of goodwill, and will be announcing the next move soon.
"I did not choose to keep quiet because I am a coward or stupid but for the love of peace. I also chose not to put my community in danger," Mr Gachagua said.
Mr Gachagua said he should not be ruled out in the political arena as he urged young voters to register to vote in large numbers when the exercise opens up.
The people from the Mount Kenya region, he said, are one of the majority voters and easily decide the winners of presidential polls.
The former deputy president said his impeachment had made him wiser and admitted he had become very cautious about who he calls a friend.
"Some people, when they smell money, can even sell their mothers if the price is right," Mr Gachagua said
He rallied the people from Mount Kenya to support the leaders who never supported his impeachment both from the Senate and in the National Assembly.
Mount Kenya people, he said, never forget and when the time is right they will communicate their way forward.
Mr Gachagua has challenged his ouster by both the National Assembly and the Senate and all the petitions, including those against his replacement with former Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki, will be heard in January 2025.
This story has been updated to include a comment from the DCI.
