On February 1, 2026, President William Ruto issued a stern warning against the use of churches as “arenas for political rivalry, hate, or division.”
Speaking during a service at PEFA All Nations Gospel Church in Gikomba, Nairobi, the President’s directive followed a controversial incident at ACK Witima Church in Othaya.
Ruto emphasized that the pulpit is sacred and should be a place of “peace, reflection, and seeking God,” rather than a platform for “retrogressive politics.”
He ordered all security agencies to safeguard places of worship, declaring that they must be protected from “unnecessary and useless fights.”
The statement was a response to the January 25, 2026, attack at ACK St. Peter’s Witima, where police and armed individuals reportedly lobbed tear gas into a service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
While Gachagua and other opposition leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka have accused the state of orchestrating the violence, Ruto demanded that any officers implicated in the disruption be arrested and prosecuted.
Religious leaders, including ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, have condemned the “desecration of sacred ground” and called for an apology from the National Police Service.
Ruto concluded by reminding political leaders that there are sufficient platforms outside of the church for political engagement.
By Anthony Solly
