NAIROBI, Kenya — Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has called for an immediate investigation into the invasion of a church facility by suspected goons, demanding the arrest and prosecution of all those involved.
Speaking amid growing outrage over the incident at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, Sapit condemned what he described as a dangerous attack on places of worship and civic spaces, warning that such actions threaten constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.
“We condemn the invasion of churches and homes,” Sapit said, urging security agencies to act swiftly against those responsible.
The Archbishop called for a comprehensive probe into the attack, which disrupted a post-budget dialogue forum attended by civil society groups and other stakeholders. The assailants reportedly forced their way into the church compound, confronted security personnel, and later stormed the conference venue, causing damage and allegedly assaulting some participants before police intervened.
Sapit said places of worship must remain sanctuaries of peace, dialogue, and reflection, free from intimidation, violence, or political interference.
He further demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the individuals behind the attack, insisting that accountability must extend beyond those directly involved to include any sponsors or organizers.
“The perpetrators must be arrested and prosecuted without delay,” he said.
In a strong warning to law enforcement authorities, the Archbishop said failure to bring the suspects to justice would raise serious questions about the commitment of security agencies to uphold the law.
Sapit went further to demand the resignation of the Inspector General of Police should investigations fail to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from religious leaders, human rights organizations, and civil society groups, with many describing it as an attack on constitutional freedoms, including the rights to association, expression, and access to information.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has already termed the invasion a blatant desecration of a sacred place of worship and called for the public identification and prosecution of all individuals linked to the violence.
Human rights groups have also raised concerns over what they describe as increasing intimidation of civil society organizations and public forums across the country.
The attack comes amid heightened political debate over the 2026/27 national budget and growing scrutiny of government policies by civil society actors and opposition groups.
