Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has squarely placed the burden of the violent security breach at St. Peter’s ACK Church in Witima on the shoulders of Inspector General Douglas Kanja, demanding an immediate public accounting for what she terms a "desecration of sanctuary."

The demand follows a chaotic Sunday service in Othaya, Nyeri County, where teargas canisters were lobbed into a congregation attending a service with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The incident, which left worshippers choking and children traumatized, has ignited a firestorm of political and religious condemnation, with Maina insisting that the "buck stops" with the police command, regardless of whether the perpetrators were uniformed officers or hired goons.

A Breach of Sacred Trust

Speaking from Nairobi on Tuesday, Senator Maina did not mince words. She characterized the incident not merely as a political skirmish, but as a fundamental violation of Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of worship. "To the Inspector General of Police, these attacks have taken a different dimension," she stated in a widely circulated dispatch.

"Whether the police lobbed the teargas canisters or a group of marauding goons perpetrated these attacks, your office will remain responsible to render a public account of the events surrounding this attack." Her sentiments echo a growing unease regarding the politicization of state security apparatus. The Senator argued that the presence of nursing mothers, the elderly, and young children in the congregation made the use of chemical irritants a "grossly disproportionate and inhumane" act.

• The Pattern of Aggression: This is not an isolated event. The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has cataloged at least nine similar disruptions of worship services by police since 2020, pointing to a systemic disregard for the sanctity of the church.
• The Leadership Vacuum: Critics argue that IG Kanja’s silence in the immediate aftermath has created a vacuum filled by speculation and rising tensions in the Mt. Kenya region.
• Political Undertones: The presence of former DP Gachagua suggests the attack was politically motivated, designed to intimidate dissenters within the region.

The Constitutional Implications

Legal experts warn that the normalization of police interference in religious gatherings sets a dangerous precedent. The Senator’s ultimatum to the IG is grounded in the National Police Service Act, which mandates the service to protect life and property, not endanger it. "We are witnessing the weaponization of the police force to settle political scores," Maina warned. "If the altar is no longer safe, where is?"

The incident has drawn parallels to the dark days of the single-party era, where the pulpit was often the only refuge for free speech, and subsequently, a target for state repression. Maina’s call for accountability is expected to culminate in a formal motion in the Senate, summoning the Interior Cabinet Secretary and the Inspector General to explain why the "monopoly of violence" was unleashed on prayerful citizens.

As the dust settles in Othaya, the political fallout is just beginning. "We will not allow Kenya to slide back into a police state," Maina concluded. "The IG must answer, and he must answer now."