Othaya, Nyeri County – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has strongly refuted accusations by his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua, who claimed the DP was the mastermind behind the violent skirmishes at Witima ACK Church on Sunday.
The incident, which saw masked policemen fire live rounds into the church, lob teargas at worshippers, and vandalize vehicles in Gachagua’s entourage, has sparked heated political exchanges amid rising tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua’s Allegations
On Monday, January 26, Gachagua took to his X account to accuse Kindiki of orchestrating the attack. He shared a photo of a man seated behind the DP, claiming the individual was the police officer who led the violence.
“Bwana saprano I hear you are calling for investigations. This is your officer who led the attack in Witima ACK church. You are part and parcel of the conspiracy,” Gachagua wrote.
Gachagua framed the incident as a State-sponsored assassination attempt, alleging that the tear-gassing, live bullets, vehicle torching, and forced evacuation through a fence were part of a deliberate plot targeting him.
Kindiki’s Response
In a swift rejoinder, Kindiki dismissed the allegations, distancing himself from the individual in the photo and rejecting any association with the violence.
“Good evening Wamitego: The image you have circled is not of any officer or staff attached to me. I don’t know who that is,” Kindiki stated.
He accused Gachagua of desperation, saying attempts to link him to the incident were unfounded.
“I know you are desperate to associate me in whatever way with the criminal act involving you yesterday. Unfortunately for you, this is not where to find me.”
Condemnation of Violence
Kindiki reiterated his condemnation of the Witima church attacks, emphasizing that his political style does not involve criminality or violence.
“I condemned and will continue to condemn the backward behaviour of the use of violence to transact politics whether by notam, haftam, wantam or tutam people,” he wrote.
He stressed that his approach to politics is rooted in logic, persuasion, and consensus, contrasting it with what he described as Gachagua’s confrontational methods.
“Please do your stuff, and don’t invite me to a duel because our methods of doing things are not the same.”
Call for Accountability
The Deputy President urged authorities to hold those responsible for organizing the violence accountable, warning that failure to act could result in further harm to the country.
Earlier, Kindiki had dismissed claims of State-sponsored violence in Othaya, suggesting instead that the chaos at Witima ACK Church was a “self-staged drama” designed to garner political sympathy for Gachagua.
“Violence, whether organized by political opponents, or by self for sympathy… is a criminal act,” Kindiki said, casting doubt on his predecessor’s narrative.
Conclusion
The Witima ACK Church skirmishes have escalated political tensions between Deputy President Kindiki and former Deputy President Gachagua, with both leaders trading accusations in the public arena. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the volatile political climate in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
