MOMBASA, Kenya – Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has issued a warning to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following violent disruptions at a church service in Mwiki, Kasarani, where Gachagua was in attendance.
Chaos erupted at PCEA Church on Sunday when a group of youths stormed the service, forcing Gachagua’s security team to fire warning shots to restore order.
The incident has sparked accusations of political sabotage, but Murkomen has raised a different possibility—that the chaos may have been staged.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Murkomen suggested that if investigations reveal the incident was orchestrated for political sympathy, those responsible—including Gachagua if implicated—would face legal consequences.
“If this was stage-managed, then they set themselves up,” Murkomen declared. “Should it be proven, we will arrest the one pretending to be hurt—if they were indeed behind it—and they will face legal action. We don’t care which political side you’re on. The law applies to everyone.”
The Interior CS denied any government involvement, insisting that security agencies remain impartial.
“My job is not to take sides,” he said. “Whether you’re in government or opposition, our duty is to ensure peace and uphold the law.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has since revealed that the church failed to notify police of Gachagua’s attendance, leaving officers unprepared for potential unrest.
“No advance security measures were in place because the event was not reported,” the DCI stated, adding that an investigation is underway to determine who instigated the violence.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as youths clashed near the church entrance, prompting Gachagua’s guards to fire shots in the air.
No injuries were reported, but the incident has deepened political tensions.
Gachagua’s allies have accused political rivals of targeting him, while critics suggest the chaos may have been a calculated move to paint him as a victim ahead of future political maneuvers.
