As the church floor turns into a crime scene, detectives hunt the 'faceless' agents who lobbed teargas at the Holy Communion. But in a country of unresolved political crimes, is this just another cover-up?

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has formally opened a file on the chaos that rocked St. Peter's ACK in Witima, Othaya. The incident, which saw a teargas canister detonated inside a packed church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has drawn universal condemnation from clergy and civil society alike.

The "Faceless" Goons

Police reports indicate that "unknown persons" infiltrated the congregation before unleashing the chemical agent. However, eyewitnesses tell a different story. "These were not ordinary thugs," claimed a church elder who witnessed the attack. "They moved with military precision. They knew exactly where the VIPs were sitting."

The police are now analyzing CCTV footage from the church compound. But skeptics are already questioning whether the footage will "mysteriously disappear," as is the custom in politically sensitive investigations.

A History of Violence

The probe comes against a backdrop of rising political intolerance in the Mt. Kenya region.

• The Trigger: The attack occurred just as Gachagua was preparing to address the congregants, suggesting a premeditated effort to deny him a platform.
• The Fallout: The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) has demanded an apology from the state, declaring the pulpit a "no-go zone" for political wars.

The Verdict

As the investigators dust for fingerprints on the canister fragments, the court of public opinion has already made its ruling. In Kenya, when the state is suspected of being the arsonist, it rarely acts as the firefighter. The Othaya probe will be the ultimate test of the police service's independence—or lack thereof.