Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina has come out guns blazing to clear her name. In a fiery rebuttal, she has categorically denied any involvement in the violent disruption of a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at ACK Witima in Nyeri. Maina dismisses the accusations as "political theatrics" designed to garner sympathy for a fading kingpin.

The incident on Sunday, January 25, saw teargas lobbed into the sanctuary, sending worshippers and clergy scampering for safety. Gachagua immediately pointed an accusing finger at Maina and Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, alleging they orchestrated the attack with state backing. Maina calls this a lie.

"He Staged It Himself"

Maina’s counter-narrative is explosive. She suggests that the chaos was stage-managed by Gachagua’s own team. "The former DP attended ACK Othaya. Seven minutes later, he was allegedly attacked," she noted. She questions why he locked himself inside the church instead of fleeing if he truly feared for his life, accusing him of spreading a "false alarm" about an abduction to whip up emotions.

• Legal Action: Maina is not just issuing denials; she is threatening to sue Gachagua for defamation. "You cannot drag my name into your scripted drama," she warned.
• The Bigger Picture: This spat is a microcosm of the war for the soul of Mt. Kenya. Gachagua, feeling besieged, is lashing out at Ruto’s allies like Maina. Maina, emboldened by her proximity to power, is refusing to bow to the region’s former supremo.

The Church as a Battlefield

The tragedy is that the pulpit has become a boxing ring. As politicians trade barbs and teargas canisters fly, the sanctity of worship is violated. Betty Maina says she is innocent, Gachagua says he is a victim. The truth lies somewhere in the smoke of the teargas, and until the police conduct a real investigation, the people of Nyeri are left caught in the crossfire.