The former Deputy President refuses to turn the other cheek, accusing the state of orchestrating violence to silence dissent.

The pulpit became a battleground this Sunday, and Rigathi Gachagua is naming names. In a blistering address that has raised the political temperature in Mt. Kenya to a boiling point, the former Deputy President has categorically accused "specific state agents" and police officers of violently attacking worshippers at the Witima Church in Othaya.

Speaking from his Nyeri stronghold, a defiant Gachagua framed the incident not as a random act of hooliganism, but as a calculated, state-sponsored operation designed to intimidate the church and silence political opposition. "They came with batons and teargas to the House of God," he thundered, "because they fear the truth."

The Weaponization of the Altar

The accusations strike at the heart of the fragile relationship between the state and the clergy in Central Kenya.

• The Incident: Chaos erupted at the Witima Church when a group of youths disrupted the service, leading to a violent confrontation. Gachagua alleges that police officers present stood down or actively facilitated the disruptors.
• The Politics: This is classic "Mt. Kenya politics." The church has long been the sanctuary for political messaging in the region. By attacking the sanctuary, Gachagua argues, the state is crossing a red line that will alienate the pious electorate.
• The Defense: Police commanders in Nyeri have dismissed the claims as "political propaganda," insisting they intervened to restore order. But in the court of public opinion, the image of teargas in a church nave is damning.

The Gloves Are Off

This marks a significant escalation in Gachagua’s post-impeachment strategy. He is positioning himself as the defender of the faith and the region against a "vindictive" administration. "You can take my office, but you cannot take my voice," he declared.

As investigations launch, the truth remains obscured by the fog of teargas. But one thing is clear: the battle for the soul of the Mountain has moved from the ballot box to the pews, and it is getting uglier by the day.