Malala alleges Gachagua was abducted after chaos at Othaya church

DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala / Screengrab

Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala has alleged that the former deputy president and the party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, has been abducted.

This follows chaos that occurred on Sunday at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, where Gachagua and his team were attending a church service.

The incident, which involved the deployment of tear gas and live bullets, left civilians and churchgoers trapped inside the place of worship, while vehicles outside were set ablaze.

“Fellow Kenyans, today we were in church at Othaya, and when we had started the service, goons came inside, beat us up, and threw everyone out. They hurled teargas at us when we were coming out, some people took our party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, and we don’t know where he has been taken,” Malala said.

Malala demanded that Gachagua be “produced within the next one hour,” accusing unknown actors of endangering the lives of DCP officials and supporters.

He urged Kenyans to demand Gachagua’s immediate release.

Shortly after the incident, Gachagua himself shared a chilling account of the ordeal on social media, claiming that the government had sent a squad to disrupt the church service.

He described the scene as chaotic and life-threatening, noting that both his team and local churchgoers were under attack.

“We are marooned in church, being attacked with live bullets and tear gas, and they torched my vehicles. We ask Kenyans to pray for us to come out alive,” Gachagua wrote, highlighting the intensity of the confrontation.

Gachagua and other leaders were forced to use an alternative route to leave the church premises.

In a video seen by the Star, Gachagua, clerics, and other worshippers had to use a 'panya route' to escape from the mayhem.

In a different video, the men armed with guns can be seen firing and lobbing tear gas towards the church.

It is alleged that vehicles, including those that belong to Gachagua, and property of unknown value were destroyed during the incident.

Some people were also injured during the fracas.

This is not the first time Gachagua has been at the centre of controversy involving the use of force by security agencies during public gatherings.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the violent attack.

“This is a grave and unacceptable violation of the Constitution and the rule of law. A church is a sacred and protected space. The use of force against unarmed citizens in such circumstances is unlawful and indefensible,” Kalonzo said on X.

He held the Inspector General of Police and all those responsible fully accountable for the safety of Gachagua, his team, and the civilians inside the church.