Chaos and Gunfire Erupt Outside Kariobangi North Church During Gachagua Thanksgiving
Tensions flared in Kariobangi North Estate, Nairobi, on Sunday, November 30, as rival political factions clashed outside the PCEA church, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had gone to attend a service.
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation erupted shortly before noon when a group of youths, alleged to have been mobilised to disrupt the event, confronted supporters of Gachagua outside the church. The two sides engaged in heated exchanges, blocking the main access road to the church and prompting panic among residents and passersby.
Police officers, already on high alert, quickly intervened to contain the situation. “We deployed officers immediately to prevent escalation,” said a senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Tear gas was used and shots fired into the air to disperse the crowd and restore order.”
Video footage of the incident shows residents fleeing in all directions, while businesses in the vicinity temporarily halted operations as chaos unfolded. The church service itself was briefly interrupted for approximately five minutes, with congregants covering their faces to shield themselves from the effects of tear gas fumes.
Despite the disturbance, no serious injuries were reported. Gachagua’s ally, Embakasi Central Member of Parliament Benjamin Mejjadonk, continued with his address, urging calm among attendees.
The violent outbreak comes just three days after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate, David Warui, claimed victory in the Kariobangi North Member of the County Assembly race. According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Warui secured 2,282 votes, defeating independent candidate Kimanzi John Katua, who garnered 1,956 votes.
Warui hailed his win as a “defining moment” not only for Kariobangi North but for the DCP nationally. Today, Gachagua had joined a Thanksgiving service at the PCEA church in honour of Warui’s triumph when the clash occurred.
The DCP has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and police have maintained a heightened presence in the area as the church service continued without further disruption.
Also Read: Odinga Family Chooses Burial Location for Raila’s Late Sister Beryl
Chaos and Gunfire Erupt Outside Kariobangi North Church During Gachagua Thanksgiving