Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has moved swiftly to distance himself from the chaos witnessed in Nyeri, condemning the police disruption of a church service attended by his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, as "criminal, harmful, and un-Kenyan."

The incident at Witima ACK Church in Othaya has sparked national outrage. Police officers lobbed teargas canisters into the church compound, forcing worshippers—including children and the elderly—to flee for safety. In the ensuing melee, Gachagua’s convoy was pelted with stones, and one of his vehicles was reportedly set ablaze.

"Violence Has No Place at the Altar"

"I have noted with deep concern the events in Othaya," Kindiki said in a press statement. "Violence, whether organized by political opponents or stage-managed for sympathy, is unacceptable. The use of teargas in a place of worship violates the sanctity of the church and the freedom of assembly guaranteed by our Constitution."

Kindiki’s strong words are seen as an attempt to calm rising tensions in the Mt. Kenya region, where Gachagua has been cultivating a "victim" narrative since his impeachment. By condemning the police action, Kindiki is walking a tightrope—asserting his authority as the region’s kingpin while avoiding the blame for the heavy-handed tactics of the state security apparatus.

• The Assassination Claim: Gachagua has escalated the stakes, claiming the chaos was a cover for an "assassination attempt" by a "state-sponsored killer squad." "We were marooned," he posted. "They fired live bullets. They want me dead."
• The LSK Position: The Law Society of Kenya has weighed in, with President Faith Odhiambo demanding immediate answers from the Inspector General, terming the attack on a church "a new low" for the National Police Service.

A Region on Edge

The Othaya incident marks a dangerous escalation in the supremacy battle for the Mountain. With the church now becoming a battlefield, the political temperature in Central Kenya is nearing a boiling point, and Kindiki’s call for "impartial investigations" may do little to quell the suspicions of a populace that feels under siege.