United Opposition refuse police visits, vow Witima justice

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The United Opposition, also calling itself the United Alternative Government (UAG), has announced it will no longer engage with the Inspector General of Police.

They said in a jointstatementon Thursday that ceremonial visits to  IG Kanja's office have failed to deliver justice for victims of the Witima ACK Church attacks.

The statement follows their previous visit to Vigilance House, the headquarters of Kenya Police, where they sought accountability over police inaction in the attack in Nyeri County.

The leaders including Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Rigathi Gachagua, Eugene Wamalwa, and Fred Matiang’i said they will pursue private legal action over the chaotic church incident instead of making symbolic visits to police headquarters.

The United Opposition said it has identified 12 police officers and two Members of Parliament whom it claims were involved in the attack.

The group alleges the completed investigative file was intercepted by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, halting state prosecution efforts.

“We shall not be returning to the office of the Inspector General,” the statement said, adding that the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has failed to act.

The coalition invoked Article 157(6)(b) of the Constitution, which allows private individuals to institute criminal proceedings when the state declines to act.

On January 25, worshippers at St Peter’s ACK Witima Church in Othaya, Nyeri County were disrupted by a chaotic security breach when tear gas was lobbed into the church compound during a service attended by Rigathi Gachagua and other leaders.

Witnesses reported vehicles damaged outside the church, and reports prompted police to launch a probe.

The National Police Service confirmed it initiated investigations, recorded statements and reviewed footage to establish what transpired and identify those responsible.

Police have appealed to members of the public with information to come forward to assist inquiries.

Civil society and church bodies also condemned the disruption.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) demanded an apology from the police and Interior Cabinet Secretary, saying the incident violated constitutional protections for freedom of worship.

The United Opposition has previously visited Jogoo House — the office of the Inspector General — to press for accountability over a string of alleged security incidents targeting opposition leaders and supporters.

They say repeated reports to police stations have not resulted in arrests, updates or corrective action.

In their Thursday statement, they said that publicly lodging complaints has not yielded results, prompting the decision to take private prosecution against those they allege were involved in the Witima attack.