Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has issued a fiery ultimatum to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, demanding the immediate prosecution of suspects linked to the violent disruption of a church service in Nyeri, alleging high-level state complicity.

The political temperature in the Mt Kenya region has reached a boiling point following the chaotic scenes witnessed at the ACK Witima Church in Othaya. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the central figure in the drama, has broken his silence with a scathing attack on the security apparatus. Speaking from his Mathira stronghold, Gachagua demanded that the names of the "goons" and officers allegedly involved in the teargas attack be forwarded immediately for prosecution. "We know them. They are not ghosts. They were captured on camera, some in uniform, some in civilian clothes but armed with state-issued teargas. Forward them to court!" Gachagua thundered.

The incident, which occurred on January 25, saw a Sunday service descend into pandemonium when teargas canisters were lobbed into the sanctuary, sending worshippers—including the elderly and children—scrambling for safety. The attack has been widely condemned as a desecration of a holy place, but for Gachagua, it is evidence of a sinister plot by the "Deep State" to silence him following his acrimonious departure from government. "When the police turn into a militia that storms the altar of God to hunt down a leader, we have crossed into a dictatorship," he declared.

The Politics of Persecution

This confrontation is the latest flare-up in the ongoing cold war between Gachagua and the administration of President William Ruto. Since his impeachment, Gachagua has positioned himself as the besieged defender of the Mt Kenya region, using every attack—perceived or real—to galvanize support. The Nyeri church incident feeds directly into his narrative of political persecution. Security analysts observe that the delay in arrests is handing Gachagua a powerful propaganda weapon.

• The Police Stance: Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has condemned the incident and ordered the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to investigate. However, three weeks on, the lack of visible arrests has fueled public skepticism.
• The Accusation: Gachagua claims the attackers were "state-sponsored militia" sent to assassinate him or cause him bodily harm under the guise of crowd control.
• The Fallout: The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) leadership has demanded an apology from the State, warning that the sanctity of the pulpit is non-negotiable.

A Pattern of Intimidation?

The Witima incident is not an isolated event. It follows a string of disruptions at events attended by the former DP, including a similar clash in Gatundu South. Supporters of Gachagua argue that there is a coordinated effort to restrict his movement and assembly, effectively placing him under an undeclared house arrest. "They fear the people's love for me. They think teargas can wash away the truth, but it only makes it clearer," Gachagua stated, invoking the defiance of the Mau Mau veterans from the region.

Conversely, government apologists argue that Gachagua is deliberately provoking security agencies to play the victim card. They point to the "aggressive mobilization" of youths at his events as a security threat that police are duty-bound to contain. However, the optics of teargassing a church are universally damaging. Political analyst Prof. Edward Kisiang'ani notes, "In a deeply religious nation like Kenya, attacking a church is a political suicide mission. The government must move fast to prosecute the actual perpetrators, or they will lose the moral argument entirely."

As the DCI completes its probe, the eyes of the mountain are watching. Will the file gather dust, or will heads roll? For Rigathi Gachagua, the delay is already a verdict of guilt against the state.