The Agikuyu Council of Elders, Nyeri branch, has called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to rein in the police service following an attack at ACK Witima Church, which is suspected to have been carried out by police officers.

Chaos erupted when the former Deputy President was teargassed as he and other leaders attended a church service on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Speaking on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, a few hours after the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) demanded accountability from the police service, the elders expressed fear that if such attacks are allowed to continue, they could lead to serious loss of life.

“In times of trouble, you can only run to a church or a police station. We are asking IG Kanja to check himself and his office to see whether it is functioning properly. If it is not, he should put it in order, because at the end of the day, it is a big shame that a police vehicle was parked there and the incident happened in his own county, where he was born,” said Muthoga Kirethi, chairman of the Kikuyu Council of Elders in Nyeri County.

Kirethi said recent visits by President William Ruto to the region in efforts to regain the turf had warmed the hearts of residents, but that goodwill was destroyed within hours after the church attack in Othaya.

“The attack on worshippers in the church last Sunday has destroyed the support our President had earned during his recent visits to the region,” he said.

This comes even as leaders allied to Gachagua accuse the government of pretence and inaction in what they call a well-orchestrated attack dimissing the ongoing probe into the incident.

Conversely, the elders said worshippers with no intention of engaging in political intimidation are increasingly being hurt without cause, a situation they described as a threat to national peace and unity.

They have urged President Ruto to immediately stop attacks against political opponents, warning that such actions are eroding his public support, especially in the Mt Kenya region.

“We want the government to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the attack. We want to know those who were behind it,” said Wachira Matheri, chairman of Kiama Kia Ma Nyeri County.