Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ignited a political storm following a controversial church incident on Sunday, 6 April, at PCEA Kasarani East Parish.
Gachagua accused President William Ruto’s allies of deploying hired goons to disrupt the service, calling the move a troubling escalation of political hostilities that have now encroached on places of worship.
According to Gachagua, his security team managed to neutralise the attempted disruption.
He further claimed police officers had been instructed to stay away from the scene, leaving his team to manage the situation alone — a directive he alleged came from senior police leadership.
In a bold statement, he warned the President that any attempts to silence or eliminate him would not only fail but complicate Ruto’s political path even more.
“I may go down, but we have enough soldiers to continue the struggle,” Gachagua declared, insisting that his political movement is not a one-man show. He called for calm among his supporters, urging them to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite ongoing provocations.
“Let us not retaliate. All I seek is peace,” he added, pointing to the 2027 General Election as the moment for true accountability.
However, public reaction to Gachagua’s comments has been largely critical and, at times, scathing.
Many Kenyans took to social media to accuse him of hypocrisy, political opportunism, and insincerity. Some alleged that the disruption may have been orchestrated from within his own camp to gain sympathy.
“Nonsense, the DO should pay his goons,” wrote @SammyMoks93, while @jerrymutegi added, “I don’t trust Gachagua. The former DP organised the goons to storm the church to win some sympathy.”
Others pointed to past tragedies, particularly the 2007 Kiambaa church massacre, questioning why Gachagua aligned himself with Ruto despite the history.
User @Whizzers247 lamented the entanglement of religion and politics: “The moment the church was entangled in politics through bribery, it became murky waters. The church has lost the respect of Kenyans.”
Another section of the online community accused Gachagua of using the pulpit for political grandstanding. “He can’t pull crowds in towns, so he hides behind church congregations,” wrote @natalyathur.
Others mocked his previous show of confidence, calling him a shadow of the vocal politician he once was.
Still, a few netizens showed empathy, with @KenethRoti19413 from Rift Valley saying, “Riggy G, remain strong — some of us are praying for your safety.”
One thing is certain — the 2027 race is shaping up to be turbulent, and the battle lines are already being drawn.
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