Gachagua claims 'killer squad' sent after him as teargas disrupts church service

There was a standoff at Wairima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday morning after opposition leaders led by Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua were teargassed during a church service.

In a post on his X account, Gachagua claimed that he and his allies were trapped inside the church after police officers lobbed teargas inside the church over what he described as an ‘assassination attempt.’

He further appealed to the public for prayers, saying that his vehicles had been torched as he decried a political witch-hunt from the government.

“William Ruto has sent a killer squad to kill us inside Wairima ACK church, Othaya. We are marooned in church, being attacked with live bullets and tear gas and my vehicles were torched,” Gachagua wrote.

Citizen Digital witnessed the unrest as teargas filled the air in the church, and vehicles were also targeted. Churchgoers also claimed to have retrieved live bullets in the church compound.

Persons believed to be police officers in plain clothes lobbed teargas and fired live ammunition inside the church's compound, where the DCP leader had just arrived to attend Sunday service.

Details surrounding the confrontation, including the extent of injuries or damage, are yet to be communicated.

This is not the first time that the former deputy president has been attacked in church.

Two weeks ago, a similar attack happened outside the Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kiamworia, Gatundu South, after Gachagua attended a church service.

Chaos occurred after rival youth groups armed with batons engaged in a standoff outside the church, prompting police to deploy teargas to disperse the youths.

The confrontation also disrupted traffic along the Kiamworia-Gatundu South road and resulted in a minibus being vandalized. The driver was accused of ferrying the youths to the area.

Several members of the congregation suffered teargas inhalation as the fumes spread inside the church, with worshippers describing the scene as chaotic.