Gunshots Fired as Chaos Disrupts Gachagua’s Church Visit

Tension gripped PCEA Kasarani East Parish in Nairobi on Sunday morning after gunshots were fired by security officers linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The chaos erupted when hundreds of unruly youths stormed the church demanding payment to attend the service.

Eyewitnesses reported that the youths, many dressed in military fatigues and combat gear, forced their way into the church, disrupting the service and vandalising property, including breaking chairs meant for congregants. The situation quickly escalated, prompting Gachagua’s security detail to fire into the air in a bid to disperse the crowd.

During the melee, a vehicle associated with Gachagua was stoned, with windows shattered. Images and videos seen by theafricanwatch.com show the former DP seated calmly inside the church while chaos unfolded outside.

The incident caused a temporary halt to the service, with frightened congregants fleeing for safety. The presiding bishop condemned the violence, emphasizing the constitutional right to freedom of worship. “We have freedom of worship in Kenya, and the Constitution guarantees that you can visit any part of the country,” the bishop stated.

Surprisingly, there was no visible presence of National Police Service (NPS) officers at the scene, raising concerns about security preparedness during high-profile visits.

This is the second disruption of a Gachagua event in recent weeks. On March 23, the former DP was blocked by agitated youth while exiting the ACK Cathedral in Nyeri town.

As of publication, NPS had not released an official statement regarding the incident. Gachagua is expected to address congregants later today, in what is anticipated to be a response to President William Ruto’s recent tour of the Mt Kenya region.