A thanksgiving service for Nairobi’s Kariobangi North Member of County Assembly-elect, David Wanyoike, descended into chaos when a group of youths armed with crude weapons stormed the Presbyterian Church of East Africa Berea Parish.
The event, which had been attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, was peaceful until the conclusion of the service, when the assailants arrived on motorbikes, throwing bottles and attacking attendees.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the crowd scattered. Four people were injured in the melee, including one man who was stabbed while assisting a relative. Police responded with teargas and live ammunition to disperse the attackers.
Several churchgoers took refuge inside the building while others sustained injuries and property damage. The wounded were taken to Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital, with one patient later transferred to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital for further treatment.
Despite the disruption, Gachagua used the occasion to outline his political strategy for Nairobi ahead of the 2027 general elections. He indicated that he had reached an agreement with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to secure key positions in the county, including the governorship, senate, and woman representative seats, while aiming to capture 16 of 17 parliamentary seats and 73 of 85 ward positions. Gachagua insisted that his party’s recent victories, including Wanyoike’s in Kariobangi North, Narok Town, and Kisa East, demonstrated progress, downplaying losses in Magarini and Purko.
The former deputy president accused the government of employing irregular tactics to influence by-election outcomes, alleging collusion between security agencies and criminal gangs to intimidate opposition supporters. He warned that democracy in Kenya is under threat as the country approaches the 2027 elections and called on the international community to take note of what he described as the government’s preparation for a major conflict. Gachagua’s comments underscore the heightened tensions and the increasingly violent nature of political contests in the capital.
