Shocking teargas chaos erupted at a church service in Othaya on Sunday, forcing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and hundreds of worshippers to flee for safety as canisters exploded inside the sanctuary and gunfire rang out nearby. Grainy videos circulating widely online capture the panic at Witima ACK Church – sometimes called Wairima in reports – showing people coughing, running, and scrambling over fences while thick smoke filled the air.
It’s the kind of scene no one expects on a quiet Sunday morning in Nyeri County. Gachagua had arrived for what was billed as a normal service, accompanied by local leaders and ordinary congregants. Things turned ugly fast. Eyewitnesses say it started outside, with clashes between rival groups or protesters, but quickly escalated.
Suddenly, teargas canisters were lobbed – some say right into the church compound or even the building itself. Videos show worshippers streaming out, eyes streaming, clutching handkerchiefs over their faces. In one clip that’s gone viral, you can hear screams and what sounds like gunshots cracking in the background. Vehicles parked nearby were torched, adding to the mayhem.
Gachagua himself had to be whisked away through a back route – reports describe him climbing over a fence with clergy and security in tow. For a tense hour or so, rumours swirled that he’d gone missing or even been abducted. His allies, like Democratic Congress Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala, raised alarms publicly.
Then came relief: Gachagua posted that he was safe at home, but not without firing shots of his own. He accused “government-backed goons and rogue police” of orchestrating the attack, claiming they were out to intimidate him and his supporters.
Plainclothes officers are visible in some footage, mixing with armed individuals, throwing canisters and seemingly firing weapons – though it’s hard to make out exactly who’s who in the chaos.
Politicians wasted no time reacting. Kalonzo Musyoka led the condemnations, calling it a “grave violation” of the Constitution and demanding accountability from the Inspector General of Police.
Former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i weighed in too, slamming the “barbaric” use of force on peaceful worshippers. Even nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba, who was reportedly caught in the melee, shared her ordeal. Human rights groups and church leaders expressed outrage, pointing out that places of worship should be off-limits for this kind of heavy-handedness.
Not everyone sees it the same way, though. Some voices close to the government, like Senator Samson Cherargei, suggested Gachagua staged the whole thing for sympathy.
With opposition figures coalescing around other names for future races, they argue he’s desperate for attention in his Mt Kenya stronghold. Police haven’t given a full statement yet, but early word is they were responding to unrest outside the church. Details remain murky – was it political rivals clashing? Protesters? Or something more coordinated?
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Gachagua’s been a thorn in President William Ruto’s side since his impeachment late last year on corruption charges he calls fabricated. He’s kept rallying support in central Kenya, criticising the government loudly and positioning himself as a defender of regional interests.
Incidents like this only fuel the narrative of deepening divisions. Nyeri has seen protests before, but attacking a church service? That’s a new low for many.
Congregants who spoke to reporters afterwards looked shaken. One elderly woman described choking on the gas while trying to pray. Clergy helped evacuate people, some through side exits nicknamed “panya routes” – rat holes, basically.
The bishop and priests were among those fleeing with Gachagua. By afternoon, the area had calmed, but the scorched cars and lingering smell of tear gas told the story.
Investigations are promised, with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority likely getting involved. Body cam footage, bystander videos – there’s plenty out there to sift through.
But trust in security forces takes a hit every time something like this happens. Kenyans remember darker days of political violence, and no one wants a return.
For now, Gachagua’s camp is vowing to press on, undeterred. He’s called for peace but also justice. Opposition leaders are uniting in condemnation, seeing it as proof of growing intolerance. In Othaya, folks are just trying to process it all – heading to church for solace, ending up running for their lives. Sundays should feel sacred, not scary. As the videos keep spreading and debates rage online, one thing’s clear: this incident has stirred up Kenya’s political pot once again, and the fallout could linger for weeks.
