Gachagua Plans IG Office Visit on Monday Over Witima Church Attack
Politics in Kenya? It rarely slows down. And this week, it’s heading straight to Vigilant House.
The United Opposition, led by DCP Party leader Rigathi Gachagua, says it will visit the office of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja on Monday, February 16. The reason? Fresh frustration over recent attacks targeting the former Deputy President’s public events — especially the chaos witnessed at a church in Othaya.
And from the tone Gachagua struck on Sunday, this won’t be a courtesy call.
Why Gachagua Says He’s Going to IG Kanja’s Office
Speaking during a church service in Roysambu on Sunday, February 15, Gachagua didn’t mince his words. He told congregants that opposition leaders would be heading to the police boss’s office to demand answers.
Specifically, they want updates on investigations into the incident at Witima Church in Othaya — an attack that saw worship disrupted and tensions flare.
According to the former DP, there is already evidence linking some police officers to the attack. Yet, in his view, no meaningful action has followed.
“We want to know who attacked the church and why they have not been prosecuted. So tomorrow, we will go to the office to know why those who harmed women and children have not been arraigned,” Gachagua said on Sunday.
It was a pointed statement. Emotional, too. Women and children. Church. Those words carry weight.
Two Weeks After the First Confrontation
This upcoming visit isn’t happening in isolation.
Just two weeks ago, the United Opposition confronted Inspector General Kanja at Vigilant House in Nairobi. At the time, they raised concerns about alleged threats facing opposition leaders and ordinary Kenyans.
Gachagua now says those earlier discussions didn’t produce results.
Yes, the issues were discussed. Yes, public safety was mentioned. But according to him, no foreseeable action has followed. And that’s the frustration boiling over now.
So the question hanging in the air is simple: If talks have already happened, what comes next?
The Othaya Church Incident That Sparked It All
Let’s rewind for a second.
During a church service in Othaya on Sunday, February 25, chaos broke out. A teargas canister was hurled inside the church compound. Worship turned into panic. Gachagua and his allies were forced to flee into nearby bushes.
Church. Teargas. Leaders running for safety.
It’s the kind of image that lingers.
Since then, blame has bounced back and forth between the opposition and the state. The National Police Service insisted that Gachagua and his team should have informed local authorities before attending the church function.
But the opposition isn’t buying that explanation. To them, it’s not about protocol. It’s about safety — and accountability.
Protest Threats and Rising Political Temperature
In the immediate aftermath of the Othaya incident, Gachagua vowed to call for protests on February 16 if no action was taken against those behind the violence.
That date — February 16 — is now significant again. Instead of protests, the opposition appears to be choosing a direct confrontation with the IG’s office.
Still, the underlying message remains: act, or pressure builds.
You can almost feel the political temperature rising.
President Ruto Breaks His Silence
A week after the church chaos, President William Ruto weighed in.
While he didn’t name names, his message was firm. He condemned the disorder witnessed in Othaya and warned against politicising church spaces.
“I want us to ask ourselves as Kenyans; we can practice politics, we can look for leadership, but when it comes to church, that should be a place of respect,” Ruto said.
He went further:
“Let us not bring politics, hatred, or chaos into churches. We want our churches to be a place of peace and seeking God. All of us, irrespective of who we are, must respect the place of God in our churches,” he added.
The President’s words struck a different tone — one focused less on blame and more on protecting the sanctity of worship spaces.
But whether that message cools tensions… that’s another story.
What Happens Next?
Now, all eyes are on Monday.
Will Inspector General Kanja offer answers the opposition finds satisfactory? Will investigations move faster? Or will this escalate into another political showdown?
One thing is clear — churches have become an unexpected battleground in Kenya’s shifting political landscape. And when politics enters sacred spaces, emotions run high. Very high.
For now, the United Opposition says it wants accountability. The police service insists on procedure. And the country watches.
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Gachagua Plans IG Office Visit on Monday Over Witima Church Attack