NCIC warns Othaya church violence threatens Kenya’s unity
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Former DP Rigathi Gachagua was attacked at ACK Witima Church.
Two days after chaos at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) say the teargas and violence inside a place of worship threaten the fabric of national peace and unity.
NCIC is urging political actors and security agencies to show restraint.
“Places of worship are sacred spaces for reflection and communal harmony. Their violation threatens the very fabric of national cohesion,” said NCIC Commission Secretary Dr Daniel Mutegi Giti.
He called for political restraint, tolerance, and dialogue as Kenya prepares for general elections.
NCIC also urged security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly and act within the law.
The Commission condemned the use of organized criminal gangs or mobilized goons in political activities, stressing that national peace and cohesion are non-negotiable.
“We appeal to all Kenyans to choose peace, respect the law, and uphold the dignity of every citizen,” Dr Giti added.
The Commission's statement follows that by Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) which said it was a brutal and unwarranted police attack on worshippers.
"The use of force in a place of worship is inconsistent with democratic principles and violates several constitutional rights, including freedom of religion and peaceful assembly," said KNCHR.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has demanded an apology from the Interior Cabinet Secretary and the Inspector General of Police over what it termed the desecration of a sacred space and a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
“The desecration of places of worship by police officers is deeply troubling,” NCCK said in a statement.
Video footage and eyewitness accounts shared on social media captured panic as worshippers, including children, fled in fear after the tear gas canister was deployed during the service.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was attending the service, posted that he and congregants were “marooned in church being attacked with live bullets and tear gas”, and called on Kenyans to pray for their safety.
