Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i has emerged from his political sabbatical to deliver a blistering condemnation of the government following violent scenes at a church in Othaya. In a statement that has reverberated across the political divide, Matiang’i termed the teargassing of worshippers a "sacrilege" and a definitive sign of a nation losing its soul.

The peace of a Sunday morning at the ACK Witima Church in Nyeri County was shattered yesterday when police officers lobbed teargas canisters into a congregation hosting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The incident, which left elderly worshippers choking and children in tears, has drawn widespread outrage, with Matiang’i leading the charge against what he describes as the weaponization of the police service against the church.

"The Altar is Sacred"

"In our African tradition and Christian faith, the altar is a sanctuary of last resort," Matiang’i said in a hard-hitting statement released from Nairobi. "To storm a place of worship with guns and teargas is not just a failure of command; it is a desecration. When a government turns its arsenal against prayer, it has crossed a red line from which there is often no return. We are staring at the abyss."

The former "Super CS," known for his no-nonsense approach to security during the previous administration, contrasted the incident with the operational ethos of the disciplined forces. He argued that the National Police Service is being dragged into partisan political wars, compromising its integrity and public trust. "The police exist to protect life and property, not to settle political scores at the pulpit," he added.

• The Incident: Eyewitnesses report that a contingent of police officers blocked the entrance to the church before firing teargas into the compound, causing a stampede. Several congregants were injured in the melee.
• The Target: The chaos appears linked to the presence of Rigathi Gachagua, who has been touring the Mount Kenya region to consolidate his base amid widening rifts within the ruling coalition.
• The Reaction: Religious leaders across the country have demanded an apology from the Inspector General of Police, warning that the state is setting a dangerous precedent.

A Pattern of Intolerance?

Political analysts warn that the Othaya incident is not isolated but part of a growing trend of intolerance toward dissenting voices. With the political temperature rising ahead of the next election cycle, the use of force in non-violent settings is raising alarm bells. "If they can teargas a former Deputy President in church, what about the common mwananchi on the streets?" asked a Nyeri MCA who witnessed the chaos.

For the residents of Othaya, the memory of teargas smoke wafting through the pews will not be easily forgotten. As the country grapples with economic hardships, the added burden of political violence threatens to destabilize an already fragile social fabric. Matiang’i’s intervention signals a potential coalescing of opposition forces, rallying around the defense of civil liberties and religious freedom.

The ball is now in the court of the Ministry of Interior to explain the operational orders that led to the disruption of a church service. Until then, the image of a gas-choked altar remains a potent symbol of the deep divisions plaguing the nation.