Residents scamper for safety after tear gas canisters were lobbed at Witima ACK Church in Nyeri County during a Sunday service that was attended by Rigathi Gachagua (right) on January 25, 2026.
Sunday’s violent attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a church service in Othaya, Nyeri County, was allegedly planned days in advance in Nairobi, with orders issued to ensure minimal police interference.
This is according to an officer who claimed to have been part of the operation.
The officer told the Daily Nation that a team of 15 officers was assembled in Nairobi on Friday and cleared that evening to disrupt the church service at Witima ACK Church.
The team was allegedly instructed to link up with about 20 youths from Nyeri County, while local police were ordered not to interfere.
“We were cleared on Friday evening to disrupt Gachagua’s church service. Area police were ordered in advance not to interfere,” the officer said.
He also revealed that the meeting was convened by two senior officers based at Vigilance House in Nairobi and three elected leaders from Mt Kenya region, one of them a woman.
Residents scamper for safety after tear gas canisters were lobbed at Witima ACK Church in Nyeri County during a Sunday service that was attended by Rigathi Gachagua on January 25, 2026.
Our source claimed the mission was to attack Mr Gachagua and, “if possible, injure him.” However, the plan ran into resistance within the team.
“Some of us were afraid to attack a church and there were loyalty problems when some officers openly showed support for Gachagua,” the officer said.
Around 11am on Sunday, shortly after Mr Gachagua arrived at the church, a van and a Toyota Probox drove into the church compound escorted by a police patrol vehicle.
According to witnesses, at least 15 armed men believed to be police officers descended on the compound and began firing towards the church and at vehicles parked outside.
Others lobbed tear gas canisters into the church, sending worshippers, including children, into panic.
“When I heard the commotion, I stepped out onto the church balcony and witnessed everything,” said a worshipper who requested anonymity.
“The men were dressed in jungle fatigues with their faces covered. Some were shooting towards the church while others shot at vehicles tyres. They also lobbed tear gas canisters into the church.”
The witness said the attack lasted more than 30 minutes.
When calm returned, several vehicles, including one belonging to Mr Gachagua, had their windscreens shattered, church doors bore bullet holes and some windows were broken.
Some worshippers sustained minor injuries, according to eyewitnesses.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the attack and ordered Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja to immediately pursue the perpetrators.
“Violence anywhere, and especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. The police must move without fear or favour and deal decisively with the sponsors and perpetrators of this act without regard to their status in society or political affiliation. I urge members of the public in the area to remain calm as law enforcement agencies address the matter,” Mr Murkomen said.
One of the vehicles that were damaged after armed goons disrupted a Sunday service at Witima ACK Church in Nyeri County on January 25, 2026.
The CS also said investigations into the incident had been launched and that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists at his Wamunyoro home, Mr Gachagua described the incident as an assassination attempt and accused the government of sanctioning the attack.
“What happened today was an assassination attempt on my life. This was a government-sanctioned killer squad. I have intelligence inside government and very little escapes me. But I did not know the desperation had reached a point where they could dare attack a place of worship, with children inside,” Gachagua said.
Mr Gachagua alleged that the attackers were members of a notorious police unit linked to abductions and extrajudicial killings and that they were operating with the cover of local police.
Read: ‘My life is in danger,’ Rigathi Gachagua says after police attempt to block his Kirinyaga tour
“Police leadership in Othaya should save us the drama of feigning ignorance. Their patrol vehicle was seen providing cover. They should admit they were used to facilitate this attack. The top police leadership knows this,” he said.
He further claimed the squad worked alongside state-sponsored goons and accused two MPs, one from Nyeri and another from Murang’a, of being involved in planning the attack.
“Were it not for the bravery of my security team, worshippers and supporters, the plan was to assassinate me. I had to be sneaked out and delivered safely to my home,” he said.
At the same time, Mr Gachagua revealed that he has called off all planned public rallies in Nyeri County, saying his logistics had been infiltrated.
“This is the state, working with its local assets, fighting me, DCP and our supporters. If impeachment failed to finish me, violence will not,” he said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua follows proceedings during the burial ceremony of John Muhia, who was the father of Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, in Malewa Ranch in Nyandarua County on January 7, 2026.
He warned that there were limits to the intimidation he would tolerate and accused the government of preparing the ground for repression ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mr Gachagua also dismissed claims that he had staged the attack to gain public sympathy.
“The attackers had AK-47 rifles and tear gas canisters. Are these things bought in a supermarket or at Gikomba?” he posed.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki condemned the incident, saying violence in a place of worship is unacceptable, regardless of who planned it.
“Violence, whether organised by political opponents, by self for sympathy, or by whoever for whatever purpose, is a criminal act that undermines our democracy and violates the freedom of assembly and of worship guaranteed by law,” Kindiki said.
“An impartial, non-politicised investigation of the planners, executors and enablers of this aggression on a place of worship, followed by successful prosecution is the only way to prevent this behaviour from replacing the democratic contest for leadership based on superior principles, ideas and programmes for taking Kenya forward,” the DP added.
However, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri questioned Mr Gachagua’s claims and urged him to formally record a police statement.
“Gachagua has turned serious security issues into sensational messaging. Investigations require formal complaints,” Mr Kiunjuri said, questioning why Mr Gachagua had allegedly declined to assist police investigations in previous incidents.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri addresses members of the public at Kirichu Trading Centre in Nyeri County during a ward-level empowerment initiative on July 25, 2025.
He also accused some security agencies of colluding with Mr Gachagua and called for thorough investigations into the claims.
While reacting to the incident, Spokesperson of the National Police Service Muchiri Nyaga said the Inspector General of Police had directed the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to commence investigations into the incident with the deserved urgency.
“The Regional Police Commander for Central has directed the Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) in Nyeri to secure the scene and commence investigations. The nature of this incident is totally unacceptable and has no place in this country,” Nyaga said.
“The NPS wishes to remind Kenyans that it abhors violence in all its form and those that shall be found to have perpetrated this callous disruption of the church service shall be dealt with firmly and swiftly as per the law. Churches are sanctuaries and have nothing to do with political differences or violence of whatever form or shape,” he said.
According to Nyaga, there were no reports of injuries during the incident.
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