Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has ordered an immediate probe into the conduct of officers who unleashed teargas on congregants at the Witima ACK Church in Othaya, an incident that has drawn universal condemnation.

The IG, who is under pressure to reform a police service often accused of political partisanship, directed the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to move to Nyeri and unearth the commanders who gave the order. The directive comes hours after Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed he had spoken to Kanja and demanded a report "with the urgency this matter deserves."

"Professionalism or Politics?"

"The National Police Service is a disciplined force," Kanja said in a brief statement. "We do not war with worshippers. Any officer found to have acted outside the law, or to have used excessive force in a sensitive environment like a church, will face the full force of the law."

The incident has revived dark memories of Kenya’s past, where the church was often a sanctuary for opposition figures. Critics argue that the police in Nyeri were acting on "orders from above" to frustrate former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a claim the IG is keen to dispel.

• The Scope: The investigation will focus on two key questions: Who authorized the deployment of the Anti-Riot Unit to a church service? And who fired the teargas canister that landed inside the church compound?
• The Public Trust: With Gachagua claiming his car was shot at, the ballistic analysis of his vehicle will be a litmus test for the investigation’s credibility.

The Thin Blue Line

For IG Kanja, this is a test of independence. If the probe ends in a cover-up, it will confirm the opposition’s fears of a police state. If heads roll, it might restore a semblance of trust. But for the worshippers of Witima ACK, who spent their Sunday wiping tears from their eyes instead of lifting hands in prayer, the damage is already done.