Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has launched a blistering attack on the National Police Service, demanding immediate accountability and compensation after a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua descended into a teargas-choked battlefield.

The outspoken lawmaker has termed the Sunday violence at Witima ACK Church in Othaya a "descent into a banana republic," calling for the officers who lobbed teargas canisters into the sanctuary to be held personally liable for the destruction of property. His remarks add fuel to a raging political firestorm as allies of the former DP accuse the state of an orchestrated assassination attempt under the guise of crowd control.

"Pay for Every Broken Chair"

In a characteristic no-holds-barred address via his social media channels on Monday, Salasya did not mince words. He argued that the era of "orders from above" is over and that individual officers must bear the cost of their actions.

"The police officers of Othaya must be held responsible and pay all the damages," Salasya declared. "If Rigathi Gachagua has committed an offense, the law is clear: arrest him. Do not turn the house of God into a war zone. We cannot normalize this primitive use of force."

• The Incident: On Sunday, January 25, chaos erupted at the Witima ACK Church when plainclothes officers and uniformed police stormed the venue.
• The Escape: Gachagua, clerics, and terrified congregants were forced to flee through a "panya route" (back alley) as teargas fumes engulfed the altar.
• The Damage: Several vehicles, including those in the former DP's convoy, were vandalized or torched during the melee.

A Pattern of Intimidation?

The Othaya incident is not an isolated event but the latest in a series of violent disruptions targeting Gachagua's public appearances since his fallout with the current administration. Witnesses described a terrifying scene where "goons" allegedly working alongside the police fired live bullets into the air, sending elderly worshippers scrambling for safety.

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa, who was trapped inside the church alongside Gachagua, described the operation as a "hostage situation." "We were marooned," Thang'wa stated. "Seven plain-clothed officers locked the doors and gassed us. This was not law enforcement; it was a hit job."

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since condemned the violence, promising a swift probe. However, for Salasya and the opposition, these assurances ring hollow. "You cannot investigate yourself," Salasya quipped. "The state must stop using the police to settle political scores. If they can attack a former Deputy President in church, what about the common mwananchi in Mumias?"