‘We Cannot Teargas Churches’ — Maraga Backs Gachagua’s Demos
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has thrown his weight behind calls for demonstrations led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, condemning the recent teargassing of a church congregation and setting clear conditions for any collaboration within the opposition.
Maraga Condemns Church Teargassing as Unacceptable
In a pointed interview on Monday, February 2, 2026, Maraga described the incident at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County—where tear gas disrupted a service attended by Gachagua—as completely intolerable. The attack, widely attributed to police officers or individuals linked to security forces, forced worshippers, including women and children, to flee in panic.
“We cannot teargas churches,” Maraga declared emphatically. “I fully support those demonstrations. We cannot have churches being teargassed even if you do not like the person within the congregation.”
The former Chief Justice, now leading the United Green Movement party, stressed that sacred spaces must remain protected from political violence, regardless of personal or political differences.
Call for Police Restraint and Accountability
Maraga directed sharp criticism at law enforcement, urging officers to exercise restraint and adhere to their training. He highlighted that police are instructed not to use firearms or excessive force in situations involving crowds or bystanders.
“I am sure that the police officers are trained that if you have to use a firearm, and the person you are using it against is in the middle of other people, you do not shoot,” he remarked.
He appealed to the security apparatus to stop deploying excessive force against innocent citizens and politicians, framing the church incident as part of a broader pattern of impunity.
Conditions for Joining Forces with United Opposition
While reaffirming his long-standing push to remove President William Ruto from office, Maraga made it clear he would only align with the broader opposition—often referred to as the United Opposition—if specific principles are upheld.
“We will unite with those who, first and foremost, are committed to fighting corruption,” he stated. “We will only work with those who are against impunity in our country, which protects powerful people from justice.”
The comments came during Maraga’s ongoing tour in Mombasa to promote his United Green Movement party ahead of future electoral contests.
Mixed Reactions from ODM Leaders
The endorsement arrives amid heightened calls for protests against perceived police overreach and state intimidation. However, not all opposition figures are on board. Leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have distanced themselves from Gachagua’s mobilization efforts.
ODM Chair and Governor Gladys Wanga dismissed suggestions that Gachagua’s planned demonstrations would surpass those previously led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, stating that neither Kenyans nor ODM were interested in such picketing.
Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya echoed this sentiment, asserting that only ODM possesses the capacity to mobilize mass protests effectively.
As political tensions simmer ahead of the 2027 elections, Maraga’s intervention highlights deepening divisions over protest strategies, police conduct, and the terms for opposition unity in challenging the current administration.
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‘We Cannot Teargas Churches’ — Maraga Backs Gachagua’s Demos