Gachagua, Congregants Teargassed and his Vehicle burnt
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has expressed his outrage after teargas was thrown into a church in Othaya, Nyeri County, interrupting a Sunday service he was attending and sending the congregation into a frenzy.
The incident took place in the middle of the service at Wairima ACK Church, where Gachagua was invited as a guest.
Videos shared by Kenyans.co.ke capture the scene, showing congregants rushing outside, while others were seen praying and crying out in distress amid the turmoil.
In one clip, a young girl collapses as fellow church members rush to help her, carrying her out of the church. Women and children were particularly affected, with many covering their mouths and noses as they gasped for fresh air. The service was briefly halted due to the chaos.
In another video, you can hear what sounds like gunfire as teargas smoke fills the air outside the church. A witness in the footage claims that live ammunition was used and urges Kenyans to step in, raising even more alarm about the situation.
The incident also impacted how the media covered the event, with a live broadcast cutting off suddenly as the teargas took hold.
In response to what happened, the former Deputy President accused the government of orchestrating the attack, alleging that police and state-backed groups were behind it. He also stated that live bullets were fired during the chaos and that his vehicles were damaged.
In a statement, Gachagua pointed the finger directly at President William Ruto, claiming there was a plot to take his life during the church service, and he called on Kenyans to pray for his safety.
“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 teargas, and my vehicles have been torched. We ask Kenyans to pray for us to come out alive,” he stated.
The Othaya disruption marks yet another chapter in the ongoing confrontations involving the former Deputy President during church services and political rallies. On January 9 in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua’s convoy was reportedly stopped by police as it made its way to a rally in Kegio.
Roads were blocked, and there were claims that teargas was used to disperse his supporters, although he managed to continue with the rally. Just a day before, on January 8, armed individuals were said to have tried to prevent him from entering Nyeri town ahead of another political event.
A similar situation unfolded in late November 2025 during a Thanksgiving service in Kariobangi North, where police allegedly fired teargas into the church. At that time, the police stated they were intervening to prevent clashes between two rival groups—one backing Gachagua and the other opposing him—a claim that Gachagua later dismissed.
In light of these ongoing incidents since his ousting as Deputy President, Gachagua has accused the government of orchestrating attacks against him and even trying to take his life. He has specifically pointed fingers at President William Ruto and his administration, alleging that they are using police and criminal gangs to intimidate him.
Gachagua, Congregants Teargassed and his Vehicle burnt
