The Agikuyu Council of Elders (Kiama Kia Ma), Nyeri Branch, has issued a stern ultimatum to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja: arrest the officers and "goons" responsible for the Othaya church violence within 48 hours, or face mass demonstrations.

The Elders, custodians of the community’s cultural and moral authority, expressed outrage at the "abomination" witnessed at St. Peter’s ACK Church in Witima. They argued that the use of teargas in a place of worship was not just a crime, but a curse ("thahu") that requires cleansing. Their demand adds a powerful cultural dimension to the political outcry, signaling that the community views the attack as an existential affront.

"The Altar is Sacred"

Speaking at a press conference in Nyeri town, the elders, clad in traditional regalia, accused the police service of becoming a "political militia." "We never saw this even during the colonial emergency," remarked Elder Wachira Kiago. "For the government to gas its own people while they are on their knees praying is the height of tyranny."

• The Demands: Immediate arrest of the commanding officer who ordered the teargas, a public apology from the Interior Ministry, and a guarantee of non-repetition.
• Cultural Sanctions: The elders threatened to invoke traditional curses on those who ordered the attack if they do not come forward to seek forgiveness.
• Political Unity: The incident has seemingly united the fractured political leadership of the Mountain, with the elders rallying behind the victims regardless of their political affiliation.

A Warning to the State

The Council warned that the state is "playing with fire" by antagonizing the church and the traditional leadership simultaneously. They called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to stop dragging its feet and produce the perpetrators.

"We are peace-loving people, but our patience is not infinite," the statement read. The elders’ intervention raises the stakes for IG Kanja, who now faces pressure not just from the opposition, but from the very cultural bedrock of the region.

As the 48-hour clock ticks, Nyeri holds its breath, waiting to see if the police will bow to the wisdom of the elders or risk the wrath of the community.