Deputy party leader for Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Cleophas Malala has recounted events surrounding a teargas attack that disrupted a church service in Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday, January 25, 2026, describing it as one of the most frightening moments he has experienced.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Monday, January 26, 2026, Malala said the incident occurred during the service as congregants listened to the clergy.

“Yesterday was such a horrific day. It is a day for a moment I felt terrified,” he said. Drawing comparisons with past incidents of violence, he added, “I’ve been in so many events where political intolerance has been exercised, but yesterday was the worst. I imagined what those children and women felt moments before they met their ultimate death during the Kiamba massacre.”

Service disrupted by teargas

Malala said the attack happened just as the service was underway. “We had just gone a third into the service. We had bullets being shot from outside. We had tear gas being blown up and down in the entire precincts of the church,” he said.

According to Malala, congregants initially rushed outside to establish the cause of the commotion but realised they were under attack. “We had been attacked by police who were armed. We had been attacked by goons, protected by police. And we were surprised. We wondered what is it because we had not even started giving out our speeches,” he said.

He said attempts by worshippers to flee were thwarted. “They lobbed tear gas inside the church. Children were suffocating. Mothers were choking,” he said, adding that some children fainted near the altar. “The saddest moment was when children fainted at the altar, crying, painfully inhaling toxic gases. Mothers were unable to control their children.”

Malala also described seeing a young child praying amid the chaos. “And the iconography that touched my heart was when I saw a very young child kneeling at the altar… kneeling at the altar, coughing and praying to the Lord that, oh, Lord, help me.”

Questions over police conduct

Malala said the incident raised questions about the conduct of security agencies and the duration of the operation. “That attack was not by mistake because it was a sustained attack for almost 40 minutes. And then they retreated, came back, and then had another attack for about 15 minutes,” he said.

He claimed the officers involved were not from the local police station. “Those were officers from Muranga and some from the headquarters,” he said, naming individuals he alleged led the operation. He also cited the presence of government vehicles. “We have a GK vehicle, GKB 765X. We want to know who signed that work ticket,” he said.

Malala criticised statements by the Interior Ministry following the incident. “I am surprised that the CS Interior, Murkomen, is saying that they have opened up investigations. It is now more than 40 hours from the incident. The police have not even visited the site. No statement has been recorded,” he said.

He added that the Othaya incident was among several reported cases. “We have reported 16 incidents. Since last year, we’ve had serious attacks,” Malala said, calling for accountability over the events.