Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has called for an expeditious prosecution of suspects involved in the January 25, 2026 attack at ACK Witima Church in Othaya, Nyeri County.
Speaking during a church service in Zimmerman, Roysambu, Nairobi, Gachagua argued that the suspects involved, among them police officers, are known but have not been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for further action.
He demanded that the names be forwarded to put those involved behind bars, adding that attacks against places of worship should be met with harsh legal action.
“The investigation is over and we know all the officers who attacked us in ACK Witima. We also know the Member of Parliament involved but we see there is reluctance to forward the file to the ODPP,” he noted.
“Until those people have been prosecuted the church cannot forgive the government. Attacks on a church is a terrorist act ands those who attacked us are terrorists.”
Gachagua added that the United Opposition will head to the office of the Inspector General of police Douglas Kanja on Monday to inquire on the matter as they seek justice.
“We were there two weeks ago and tomorrow at 10:00 am we will go back to ask him why those people have not been taken to court,” Gachagua stated.
During the Witima church attack tear gas and live bullets were reportedly used, vehicles were destroyed and congregants were injured. The opposition claims intelligence points to planning by a special police unit referred to as “Sierra”.
At least 15 individuals were named, accused of planning and executing the Witima attack, including Major Nicholas Mwachovi, Cpl John Maina alias Birash, Cpl Vincent Maronga, Peter Matu, Owen Kagia, David Ochieng, Erick Obiero, Jeff Mutwiri, Jackson Kioko, Kefa Okwoyo, Crispin Walumbe Muthoni, Stephen Habire Chege, Peter Wainaina Kabuga, Ambrose Manyeki Njeri alias Magrass and Simon Mwangi Wangari alias Sanchez.
The incident came after a series of attacks allegedly choreographed by the State to cripple the faction’s political engagements with citizens.
The opposition also wrote a detailed letter to the National Security Advisory Council, chaired by President William Ruto, enumerating 23 separate incidents in which Gachagua, his family, supporters and members of the public were allegedly attacked between November 2024 and January 2026.
The letter further details attacks in Limuru, Shamata, Nyeri, Meru, Naivasha, Mai Mahiu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Murang’a, Narok, Nairobi and Kirinyaga counties, some involving tear gas, live ammunition and alleged assaults by police officers or police-backed groups.
In the letter, the opposition expressed what they termed as grave concern over persistent and increasingly violent attacks against Gachagua, noting that several of the incidents occurred in the presence of police officers and, in some cases, with alleged police facilitation.
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen also condemned the disruption, assuring that swift police action will be undertaken to apprehend the suspects.
“The police must move without fear or favour and deal decisively with the sponsors and perpetrators of this act without regard to their status in society or political affiliation,” Murkomen noted.
