NYERI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has provided a detailed account of what he described as a premeditated, violent attack at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday.
Speaking at a press briefing following the incident, Gachagua said the assault left several people injured and caused substantial property damage. He alleged that the attack was orchestrated by political actors allied with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He said key figures connected to Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina convened at the home of Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi before proceeding to the church.
“A gang of almost 15 rogue police officers under the command of two bodyguards belonging to Betty Maina, the women rep for Murang’a, Peter Wainaina, John Maina aka Birash and another goon from Murang’a, Ambrose Manyeki Njeri, converged at the Kamunyaka home of Eric Wamumbi, the Mathira MP, in the morning for breakfast and briefing,” Gachagua said.
“They later moved to Witima with AK47 rifles and teargas canisters and descended on the church. They injured women and children. The police also torched one of my Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles. The goons came in a Nissan Matatu, Reg. No. KDR 467X, from NAMU shuttle.”
Gachagua added that after disrupting the service, the attackers reportedly regrouped at Wamumbi’s home.
“After the attack, the goons retreated to Wamumbi’s home in Kamunyaka, where they are now together with the police, having food and drinks,” he said.
The former Deputy President also questioned Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen’s pledge of a swift investigation, arguing that police involvement in the attack undermines the authorities’ impartiality. He alleged that some assailants arrived in a marked police vehicle, Reg. No. GKB 775X.
Also Read: Kalonzo Musyoka blames Ruto for attack on Gachagua in Nyeri church
“I have heard Murkomen say he is going to investigate. How can Murkomen investigate himself? How do police investigate themselves? These people came with a police vehicle,” Gachagua said.
“These officers are known. These officers attached to Betty Maina are the ones who attacked us. This is a government attack well known to Murkomen. Stop pretending.”
The incident comes amid growing political tensions in Kenya, with multiple reports of unrest and violence surrounding public events attended by senior opposition figures.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the attack, and the scale of injuries among churchgoers remains unclear.
