Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina has categorically denied any involvement in the chaotic Sunday attack that disrupted a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County.
Social media exploded with allegations and video clips purporting to show police officers linked to Maina firing live bullets, lobbing tear gas inside the sacred space, vandalizing vehicles—including setting one ablaze—and forcing terrified congregants, including women and children, to flee in panic. Gachagua branded the hour-long assault an assassination attempt orchestrated by rogue state elements, directly naming Maina’s bodyguards and her husband, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, as key players in the alleged plot.
In a sharp rebuttal, Maina dismissed the accusations as baseless and theatrical. “You are now funny. How many relatives could I be having in the police service? If any, don’t they have their respective stations and commands?” she questioned pointedly. She accused Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) of staging the violence to provoke police response and then scapegoat the government for political mileage.
Maina stopped short of outright condemning the desecration of the church but announced intentions to sue Gachagua for defamation over what she called repeated false claims targeting her and her family.
Her husband, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, echoed the denial, stressing that officers assigned to Maina were lawfully deployed by the National Police Service (NPS) and bore no responsibility for the chaos. “The police officers attached to my wife… are lawfully deployed officers of the NPS,” Wamumbi stated.
The incident on January 25, 2026, saw armed plainclothes individuals—allegedly backed by police vehicles—storm the service, tear-gas worshippers, and cause widespread destruction. Gachagua and allies, including DCP figures like Cleophas Malala, insisted rogue police from Murang’a and Nairobi led the assault, sharing images of suspects on social platforms.
Government officials, including Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, promised thorough investigations and prosecutions, while rejecting claims of state orchestration. Kindiki distanced himself from one named officer in viral photos. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura suggested the event was “staged-managed” for sympathy.
Church leaders, including Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, condemned the sacrilege and called for respect for places of worship. Nyeri leaders, such as Governor Mutahi Kahiga, demanded accountability amid rising political tensions in the Mt. Kenya region.
As no arrests have been reported despite public outcry, the blame game intensifies. With probes ongoing, Kenyans await whether justice will prevail or if this becomes another chapter in the nation’s heated political rivalries.
