NAIROBI, Kenya- A prayer gathering in Nyeri’s Kamukunji Stadium turned chaotic on Saturday, with accusations flying and tempers flaring as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hit out at the government over the incident.
Alleging that former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga was deployed to disrupt the service led by his wife, Pastor Dorcas Gachagua, the former DP strongly condemned the actions.
What began as a serene prayer session led by Dorcas Gachagua quickly descended into disorder when Maina Njenga arrived with a group of rowdy youths.
Witnesses said the group disrupted the speeches, forcing leaders at the podium, including Nyeri Deputy Governor Waroe Kinaniri, to exit abruptly.
The congregation, largely made up of women, also fled as the situation grew tense. Njenga’s group reportedly chanted victory slogans, creating an atmosphere of fear.
Despite the disruption, the prayers resumed, with a segment of the youth kneeling in apparent repentance.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Rigathi Gachagua accused the government of stooping to new lows.
He described the deployment of Njenga and his followers as an act of desperation aimed at sabotaging the event.
“Unleashing the leader of an outlawed criminal gang and his goons to disrupt peaceful prayers and desecrate the altar is the lowest any government can go, no matter the level of desperation,” Gachagua wrote.
“Unleashing the leader of an outlawed criminal gang and his goons to disrupt peaceful prayers and desecrate the altar, is the lowest any Government can go no matter the level of desperation,”- Rigathi Gachagua reacts after wife’s prayer meeting was disrupted in Nyeri.
The former DP’s comments reflect the growing political friction in the Mt. Kenya region, following his impeachment.
He has since been vocal in criticizing President William Ruto and the current administration, urging residents to remain cautious ahead of the 2027 General Election.
This incident adds to the already charged political atmosphere in the Mt. Kenya region.
As tensions between Gachagua and the state escalate, observers are watching closely to see how this rivalry unfolds.
The altercation at Kamukunji Stadium serves as a microcosm of the larger political battle brewing in the region.
With Gachagua urging vigilance and Njenga delivering fiery warnings, the road to 2027 seems set to be anything but smooth.
Saturday’s events in Nyeri highlight not only the fragility of political alliances but also the volatility of grassroots engagements in Kenya.
