Opposition figures linked to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claim that police abducted his personal assistant during a tense standoff at a church event in Meru County on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

The incident happened at Kaaga Methodist Church, where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki attended the induction of David Muthuia Mwiti as the new Bishop of Kaaga Synod in the Methodist Church in Kenya.

Gachagua and other United Opposition leaders planned to join the service, but security personnel blocked their advance team from entering the premises. This sparked a confrontation captured in videos on social media.

Caroline Karimi Muriuki, a North Imenti MP aspirant and Gachagua ally, led the group challenging the officers. She stressed her deep ties to the church.

“I am a Methodist,” Karimi said. “My father was a trustee of the Methodist Church. So when I speak, I speak from authority. I am not speaking from outside. I am not an outsider of the church.”

She showed an invitation card and referred to a WhatsApp group where Bishop David confirmed her attendance.

“This is my card. I was invited by Bishop David himself. Yes, this is the card. And that is our WhatsApp group. And you can see I am confirming attendance. And he is telling me, ‘Thank you, my sister.’ You are welcome,” Karimi explained.

She argued that barring her violated her rights and church principles.

“So when you stop me from attending a function of the church that I have been invited, you are not only violating my rights, but you are also trying to kill the method of the Methodist Church. We are a united people. We don’t select who comes to church, who doesn’t. The Methodist Church is about healing souls. It’s not about selecting what kind of leadership.”

Karimi accused those blocking access of lacking involvement in the church.

“I have never seen you participate in anything in Kaaga synod. I have not seen you participate in anything to do with the Methodist Church. We are the ones that have built that church with our sacrifices and with our offerings. There is no single church of the Methodist Church in Kaaga synod that I have not participated in, supported.”

She called on the bishop to intervene.

“I want to call upon Bishop to call our church to order. Do not allow people to come and destroy our church. We cannot allow goonism. I have seen someone organizing goons on the road. I have seen many people organizing goons to come to our church. That’s not our church. The Methodist Church is a church of order and methods,” she said.

The abduction claim

Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru joined the argument and raised the abduction claim.

“And just tell them that they are not just barring people from accessing. They are even arresting people or abducting people. Even as we speak, the personal assistant to His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua has been abducted by the police. That is an abduction because even the reason of arrest is not known to us. We do not know where he has been taken,” Njiru stated.

He questioned the heavy security.

“So we are just basically going to look for where he is. When did going to church become a crime in this country? When did the right and freedom of worship become a crime in this country? … As we slept here in Meru, awaiting to attend the Methodist Church this morning, they have flown with their helicopters. They have brought over 500 or 600 police officers. Even just near our hotel. We are all surrounded by the police. What the hell is this?”

Njiru added: “And church is not by invitation. You go there to nourish yourself. So why are we being barred from accessing church? … Is it going to create a lesser God? Are we going to pray a lesser God? Kindiki prays a more superior God than we are?”

Reports indicate heavy police presence around the church and near the opposition team’s hotel, apparently to prevent any clash. After the denial, Gachagua and his allies attended an alternative service at East Africa Pentecostal Church, Njotene Parish, in Buuri Constituency.