Senator Maanzo questions Ruto’s silence after Gachagua’s attack at Othaya church
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 27, 2026Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has questioned the silence of President William Ruto following the attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a church in Othaya on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
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.”
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 bushes by his security team and flown to safety on a motorcycle.
Kindiki’s reaction
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has also come out to condemn attacks on places of worship, describing such acts as criminal and harmful to Kenya’s democracy.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday, January 25, 2026, Kindiki said violence in any form, whether politically motivated or for personal gain, undermines the country’s democratic principles and violates citizens’ rights.
“Violence, whether organised by political opponents, by self for sympathy, or by whoever for whatever purpose, is a criminal act that undermines our democracy and violates the freedom of assembly and of worship guaranteed by law,” Kindiki said.
Murkomen’s intervention
The Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has also come out to condemn the act, as he called for a probe into the melee
He added that he had spoken with Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, who assured him that investigations are underway with urgency and that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The former DP himself came out to dismiss the concern by Murkomen, saying, ‘How could Murkomen investigate something that, according to Gachagua, the government is fully complicit in?’