PROMINENT Kenyan opposition figure Rigathi Gachagua has alleged there was an attempt on his life during a Sunday church service.
Gachagua, who was sacked as deputy president in an impeachment trial in 2024, claimed in an interview with the BBC that rogue police officers “shot at everybody and tear-gassed the church” in Othaya in the central county of Nyeri.
He had previously accused his former ally President William Ruto of ordering the attack but did not provide any evidence. Ruto has not commented but government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura accused Gachagua of staging the attack.
The police said an investigation had been launched, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Reports to the police indicated that a tear-gas canister had been thrown inside St Peters Anglican Church at 11:00 local time (08:00 GMT) disrupting the service.
Several vehicles were reportedly damaged within the church compound, the police added, appealing for witnesses.
Gachagua, a wealthy businessman from the central Mount Kenya area and now a vocal critic of the president, said he was escorted to safety by his security team.
He had posted photos of the incident on X and alleged to the BBC’s Newsday programme that “armed police officers with AK47s and tear gas descended on the church”.
Gachagua said that after he was helped to safety, the attackers set his car on fire and “mercilessly” beat up those gathered outside the church.
The Democracy for the Citizens Party leader said he has not reported the incident to the relevant authorities “because it is the police who attacked us. You cannot report the police to the police”.
On Monday, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Gachagua had orchestrated the attack himself.
“Those are staged-managed attacks to seek public sympathy and to whip up emotions,” Mwaura told the BBC.
In an earlier press conference, Gachagua dismissed these allegations, asking: “Where can we get access to tear gas?… Where do we get access to AK-47 assault rifles?”