Gachagua planned Witima church attack, MP Wamumbi claims

Women scamper to safety after teargas canisters were lobbed into ACK Witima church in Othaya on January 25, 2026/ HAND-OUT

Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has accused former DP Rigathi Gachagua of planning the attack on Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri county, an incident that left many residents in shock. 

Videos circulating on social media showed children, women, and the elderly hiding under pews and on stairways as others tried to wash teargas off their faces.

Other videos showed Gachagua with clergy and other leaders scampering for safety and jumping over a fence.

In another video, individuals suspected to be plainclothes police officers were seen shooting at vehicles in the parking lot, deflating tyres and smashing windscreens with bullets.

Gachagua blamed the incident on some political leaders allied to President William Ruto, claiming it was an assassination attempt.

But Wamumbi dismissed Gachagua’s sentiments, claiming he has been working with a police constable to plan attacks on his gatherings to gain sympathy.

“There’s a police officer who was sacked in 2023 and charged with giving out his firearm to be used in criminal activities. The case was in the Mavoko Law Courts. Gachagua helped reinstate him and has been using him to plan violence,” he said.

The officer, the MP said, has been helping the former Mathira MP to access teargas and has access to an AK47 rifle.

Wamumbi claimed that the police vehicle seen at the church — with individuals who were shooting at vehicles and lobbing teargas canisters, together with goons carrying rungus — was not a genuine police vehicle.

“These police constables have been helping him to get private firearm holders who show up with their faces covered,” he said.

He further said that one of Gachagua’s aides helps to ferry goons from Murang’a county, who then work together with the armed gun holders.

He announced that he would record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and provide proof of his accusations and challenged Gachagua to do the same.

Wamumbi told Gachagua to stop targeting women in his political theatrics.

“He mentioned my name. Let him provide evidence that I was involved. I was engaging with my constituents all day. He said the goons had meals at my home. Let the DCI scrutinise CCTV images to see if  it's true,” he said.

“His friends even claimed he was abducted. This was a well-written script. Let him stop the drama. Why is he not attacked when he holds meetings away from churches?”

On Sunday evening, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja directed the Internal Affairs Unit to investigate the matter with urgency, saying churches are sanctuaries that should not be involved in political differences or any violence.