Democracy for Citizens (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has come out to slam President William Ruto for maintaining silence after the attack on Othaya ACK Church in Nyeri County, where his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua had gone to attend the service.

While speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, he argued that the silence by the president on Gachagua’s attack is by design since, according to him, the president is a talkative person who usually reacts to everything and is always known for offering his opinion on various issues.

Malala has continued to express his disappointment over how such topical issues are being talked about by everyone, yet the Head of State remains very silent.

“Children were suffocating. Clergy were desperate at the altar, and the president, 72 hours down the line, has said nothing. You know very well our president is a talking machine; he responds to everybody who even tries to challenge him. He is the master of ceremonies at NYOTA functions,” Malala remarked.

Manzo’s concern

Makueni senator Dan Maanzo has also come out to question the silence by the president following the attack on Rigathi Gachagua.

While appearing in an interview on a local media station on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the senator stated that despite the president being the commander of the security forces in the country, he has not come out to condemn the act, which saw a church service brought to a standstill as congregants, including the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader, scampered for safety.

According to Dan Maanzo, the silence by the Head of State shows that he is complicit in the act.

He went ahead to state that an attack of such magnitude should have made the president sack the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, but until now, he is still in office, with no heads rolling and no presidential intervention.

“President William Ruto is the commander of the security forces in the country. He has not condemned it himself. Up to now, he has not condemned that act.”

Gachagua’s attack

This comes two days after the former deputy president, together with his entourage, was attacked in a Nyeri church, with tear gas canisters and bullets fired at them. Rigathi Gachagua was forced to be flown to safety by his security team after the assailants went ahead to puncture their vehicles, making exit logistics from the church impossible.

The former second-in-command was seen being escorted through the bushes by his security team and flown to safety on a motorcycle.