At least 15 people were arrested after violence erupted outside a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Gatundu, Kiambu County, leaving several worshippers and police officers injured and property damaged.
Police said the suspects were being held for interrogation over offences including malicious damage to property and participation in an unlawful assembly.
The chaos broke out on Sunday at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kiamworia, Gatundu South, where Gachagua and several allied leaders were attending a church service. Rival youth groups armed with batons confronted each other outside the church, forcing police to intervene.
According to police, officers deployed teargas to disperse the groups after a standoff escalated into violence. The confrontation spilled onto the Kiamworia–Gatundu South Road, disrupting traffic and leading to the vandalism of three vehicles, whose windows were smashed.
Police said the driver of one of the vehicles was accused of ferrying youths to the area to participate in the clashes, although he denied the allegations.
As teargas drifted into the church, several members of the congregation were affected, with worshippers describing a scene of panic and confusion as the service was disrupted.
Three police officers were injured during the incident after being struck by flying twigs and stones. Police said the officers were treated at a local hospital and later discharged.
Officers managed to regain control of the area at around 3 pm, allowing people who had taken refuge inside the church to leave.
“The suspects will be charged with malicious damage to property and participating in an unlawful assembly,” police said.
Speaking after the incident, Gachagua accused the government of deliberately allowing the disruption to occur, alleging that state authorities had deployed “goons” to the church while leaving police to deal with the fallout.
During the service, the former Deputy President also defended former President Uhuru Kenyatta against claims that he was attempting to destabilise the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), saying Kenyatta had previously played a key role in delivering votes for the party.
Gachagua further criticised some leaders for failing to invest in education infrastructure, contrasting that with what he said were his party’s efforts to build schools.
He was accompanied at the event by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo, among other politicians.
The Gatundu incident is the latest in a series of disruptions that have hit events attended by Gachagua in recent months. He has repeatedly claimed that the chaos is orchestrated by government-linked groups seeking to intimidate him and his supporters.
Police have rejected the accusations, saying investigations are ongoing and that suspects have been charged in some previous cases involving similar violence.
