The political ceasefire in the Kenya Kwanza coalition has shattered, with former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala launching a blistering attack on President William Ruto for his "deafening silence" following a violent police raid on a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The incident, which occurred this past Sunday at the ACK Church in Witima, Othaya, saw anti-riot police lob teargas cannisters into the sanctuary, forcing congregants—including women and children—to flee for their lives. Gachagua, who was the chief guest, was humiliatingly evacuated through a perimeter fence by his private security detail. For Malala, now the Deputy Party Leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), the President’s failure to condemn the desecration of a place of worship is an act of complicity.

"I Saw Kiambaa Replayed"

Speaking on a morning talk show, a visible emotional Malala drew chilling parallels between the Othaya incident and the dark days of the 2007 post-election violence. "On Sunday, I felt what the women and children who died in the Kiambaa church massacre went through," Malala stated, invoking a historical trauma that resonates deeply in the Mt. Kenya region. "We were trapped. The altar was engulfed in smoke. Children were fainting. And yet, the Commander-in-Chief, who comments on everything including tweets, has not said a word."

Malala’s outburst signals a new phase in the political war between the President and his estranged former deputy. By framing the attack not just as political persecution but as a sacrilege, the Gachagua camp is attempting to rally the religious vote and paint the administration as godless and tyrannical.

The Police State Narrative

The narrative of a creeping police state is gaining traction. The National Police Service has remained tight-lipped, offering no official explanation for why a peaceful prayer service warranted the deployment of teargas. Political analysts suggest that the state is intent on blocking Gachagua from consolidating his Mt. Kenya base, using the police to disrupt his "ground activation" tours.

• The Precedent: This is not the first time the church has become a battleground. However, the direct targeting of a senior political figure inside a sanctuary crosses a red line that even the Moi regime rarely breached.
• The Fallout: The incident has radicalized the clergy in the region, with Bishop Joseph Kibucwa of Kirinyaga warning that "the teargas will clear, but the anger will remain."

Ruto’s Dilemma

President Ruto finds himself in a precarious position. Condemning the police action risks demoralizing the security apparatus he relies on to contain dissent. However, continuing to stay silent validates Malala’s claim that the orders came from the top. The "Hustler" narrative was built on the sanctity of the church; attacking it attacks the very soul of his political identity.

"He must choose," Malala concluded. "Is he the President of the Republic, or the President of revenge? Because right now, the silence is louder than the teargas."