NAIROBI, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has firmly denied any involvement in the violent disruption of a church service in Othaya, Nyeri County, following claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that he was part of a plot to attack him.
In a statement on Monday evening, Kindiki dismissed attempts to link him to the incident, saying images circulating online had been deliberately misrepresented to associate him with criminal acts.
“The image you have circled is not of any officer or staff attached to me. I don’t know who that is,” Kindiki said.
Bwana saprano I hear you are calling for investigations.This is your officer who led the attack in Witima ACK church. You are part and parcel of the conspiracy.
Kindiki accused his critics of desperation, saying they were keen to drag him into a violent incident he had neither sanctioned nor supported.
“I know you are desperate to associate me in whatever way with the criminal act involving you yesterday. Unfortunately for you, this is not where to find me,” he said.
The Deputy President reiterated that he does not condone violence in politics, stressing that he has consistently opposed the use of force regardless of who is involved.
“I condemned and will continue to condemn the backward behaviour of using violence to transact politics, whether by notam, haftam, wantam or tutam people,” Kindiki said.
He added that his political career has been built on dialogue rather than intimidation.
“I don’t use violence to do politics — and I have been in politics longer than you. Instead, I use logic, persuasion and consensus,” he said.
Kindiki also warned against being drawn into personal political confrontations, saying his approach to leadership fundamentally differs from those seeking conflict.
“Please do your stuff, and don’t invite me to a duel because our methods of doing things are not the same,” he said.
Calling for accountability, the Deputy President insisted that those responsible for the violence must be identified and punished to prevent further harm to the country.
“Whoever organised the violence needs to be punished before they cause more harm to our country,” he added.
The statement comes amid heightened political tension following the brutal disruption of a church service in Othaya, where worshippers were teargassed, and chaos erupted during a service attended by Gachagua.
The former deputy president has accused his successor and former ally, Kindiki, of being complicit in the attack — claims that have now been categorically denied.
No one has been arrested so far despite videos showing the faces of the police officers and goons involved in the attack.
Human Rights organisations, church leaders, and a section of politicians have condemned the incident that comes barely a year before the General elections.
