Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has threatened to lead nationwide protests unless 12 police officers allegedly involved in an attack on January 25 at ACK Witima Church in Othaya are arrested by February 16. He described the incident as a government-planned assassination attempt. Gachagua demanded immediate action from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
At a press conference in Nairobi on Friday, January 30, 2026, Gachagua said he spoke with Inspector General Kanja and warned him that the Sunday attack was not ordinary. “We spoke with the IG head on and told him the attack on Sunday was not an ordinary attack. It was an assassination attempt targeted at Gachagua planned by the government. A special squad of 12 officers was sent to attack us in church,” said Gachagua, the former Deputy President.
He revealed that he had submitted the names of those officers to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and wants them arrested, disarmed, and charged in court immediately. "We have told the IG that before we come back on February 16, those members of the Unit need to be arrested, disarmed and taken to court. He must give that assurance," he added.
According to Gachagua, two vehicles were dispatched from Nairobi by the regional police commander to ferry those officers. His DCP Party has given the Inspector General a February 16 deadline or face mass demonstrations across the country. The protests would target Interior Cabinet Secretary Murkomen, IG Kanja, and the two Deputy Inspectors General, demanding their removal from office until police reforms are implemented.
The Sunday attack saw armed individuals storm the church sanctuary, lobbing teargas canisters into the congregation and causing panic among women and children who fled in terror. Assailants punctured tyres on Gachagua's motorcade and torched his main vehicle, forcing his security team to escort him through the bushes before evacuating him on a motorcycle.
Gachagua has directly accused current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki of orchestrating the violence, claiming a member of Kindiki's security team led the attackers who used teargas and live bullets. However, Kindiki dismissed the allegations as "primitive politics" and "bullying tactics," suggesting Gachagua staged the incident to gain public sympathy while calling for an impartial investigation by police.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura also rejected the assassination claims, alleging the attack was "stage-managed" by Gachagua himself to attract sympathy from Kenyans and international observers. Religious bodies, including the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the United Clergy Alliance (UCA), have condemned what they termed the "desecration" of the place of worship.
