NAIROBI, Kenya — Nyali Member of Parliament Mohammed Ali has condemned the violent disruption of a church service at Wairima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, describing the incident as a grave violation of Kenya’s constitutional freedoms.
Ali expressed outrage over the attack that occurred while former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was attending a morning service, warning that the use of force in a place of worship endangered innocent lives.
“I strongly condemn the attack on Wairima ACK Church, Othaya, this morning where Rigathi Gachagua was attending a service in Nyeri County,” Ali said.
“It is quite horrifying to witness such grave violations of our constitutional freedoms that put the lives of innocent Kenyans — including the elderly and children — at risk in a place of worship.”
I strongly condemn the attack on Wairima ACK Church, Othaya this morning where @rigathi was attending a service in Nyeri County. It is quite horrifying to witness such grave violations of our constitutional freedoms that put the lives of innocent Kenyans including the elderly and
The incident, captured in viral videos circulating on social media, shows police officers and armed individuals disrupting the church service, with teargas fired as worshippers fled in panic.
Screams from children and women could be heard as thick smoke filled the church compound, forcing congregants to scatter.
Ali cautioned security agencies against turning religious spaces into arenas of political confrontation, insisting that churches must remain sanctuaries of peace regardless of political affiliations.
“Security agencies must understand that places of worship are not political battlegrounds and must restrain from using force in such premises,” he said.
The MP warned that tolerating such actions risks eroding the country’s democratic foundations and social cohesion.
“We surely cannot sink this low as a nation, no matter our political differences,” Ali added.
The Othaya incident has triggered widespread condemnation from political leaders, civil society groups, and religious institutions, with growing calls for accountability from the National Police Service.
Bwana IG Kanja has decided to be the sacrificial lamb for hyu Ruto but he is too blind to see it.These back to back state sponsored violence against the united opposition is not politics rather cowardice. His master Ruto should not be settling political scores with bullets,
Critics argue that the events point to an alarming pattern of shrinking democratic space, particularly against government critics.
Gachagua, who was impeached as Deputy President following a fallout with President William Ruto, has since emerged as a vocal critic of the administration and a central figure in opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
In recent months, similar disruptions have been reported at church services attended by Gachagua in Gatundu South and parts of Nairobi, raising questions about police neutrality and the protection of constitutional rights.
As public pressure mounts, Kenyans are demanding an independent investigation into the Othaya incident, with religious leaders insisting that the sanctity of worship must be upheld and protected from political interference.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since issued a statement saying police were investigating the incidents.
No action has been taken against planners and attackers of previous incidents.
