NAIROBI, Kenya — Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of sponsoring violence and disorder at public gatherings in what he described as a calculated attempt to portray himself as a political victim and rally public sympathy.
Ruku was responding to chaotic scenes witnessed on Sunday during a church service in Nyeri attended by Gachagua, where disorder erupted, prompting police to lob teargas inside the church and forcing congregants to flee.
The CS claimed the incident was not accidental, alleging a pattern in which Gachagua moves with armed groups who deliberately cause disruptions at meetings and religious services he attends.
“This is the same pattern we witnessed during the Mbeere North by-election campaigns, where his goons attacked an innocent youth and broke his leg,” Ruku said. “The youth, identified as Fredrick, sustained a broken leg during a church service at Karangare that the former Deputy President was attending with his goons.”
Ruku warned Kenyans against what he termed “well-organized schemes” aimed at manufacturing victimhood, spreading hatred, and misleading the public about the state of governance in the country. He said the government would not tolerate lawlessness disguised as political persecution and stressed that places of worship must remain free from political theatrics.
“Churches should never be turned into arenas for political drama,” he said, adding that intimidation and violence have no place in Kenya’s democratic space.
The CS further argued that the Nyeri incident mirrored what he described as a broader pattern of violence linked to Gachagua’s political camp, urging leaders to stop using young people to advance personal political interests through fear and chaos.
Turning to regional politics, Ruku maintained that the Mt Kenya region remains firmly aligned with the government, dismissing claims that it is drifting politically. He declared Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki the undisputed political leader of Mt Kenya, saying his position at the centre of government power places the region in a strong position to benefit from development.
“With Prof. Kindiki at the heart of government, Mt Kenya is well placed to secure development and services,” Ruku said. “Any attempts to lure the region into opposing the government will only derail progress.”
Ruku accused Gachagua of political arrogance and urged him to respect the Deputy President and acknowledge the long-standing unity between Mt Kenya East, Central, and West. He emphasized that Mt Kenya East has consistently stood with the rest of the region and deserves equal recognition in national leadership.
He also weighed in on the broader debate over Mt Kenya’s political identity, saying the eastern region played a critical role in Kenya’s struggle for independence and should not be sidelined.
“It is wrong for some to behave as though only Mt Kenya West and Central sacrificed for this country’s freedom,” Ruku said. “We must build unity and mutual respect across the region.”
Ruku insisted the government remains firmly on course in delivering its mandate, adding that political propaganda and hostility would not derail its development agenda.
His remarks were echoed by Chuka Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene, who described the Nyeri church incident as a “well-scripted drama” and dismissed claims that police had targeted Gachagua. However, Munene condemned the use of teargas inside a church, calling it a violation of the sanctity and dignity of places of worship.
Tigania East MP Mpuri Apuri also condemned the incident, saying Kenyans should not be subjected to what he termed “politics of conmanship” driven by personal ambition.
The Nyeri church confrontation has reignited debate over political conduct, police response at public gatherings, and the increasing intersection between politics and religious spaces, with calls from leaders across the divide urging restraint, respect for worship, and adherence to the rule of law.
