Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has held the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, responsible for the security breach that occurred during a church service at St Peter’s ACK Church in Witima, Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

In a statement shared on her social media platforms on Tuesday, January 27, 2025, the former UDA Secretary General said the Inspector General’s office must give a full public account of the events that unfolded during the service, regardless of whether the tear gas canisters were lobbed by police officers or by a group of violent individuals.

“To the Inspector General of Police, these attacks have taken a different dimension, and whether the police lobbed the teargas canisters or a group of marauding goons perpetrated these attacks, your office will remain responsible to render a public account of the events surrounding this attack,” Maina stated.

Maina stated that the attack marked a dangerous escalation like violence being witnessed in public spaces and described the incident as a serious breach of security and dignity.

She emphasised that the church service had a mixed congregation that included children, nursing mothers, men, women, and elderly worshippers, as well as clergy, all of whom were placed at risk when tear gas canisters were released inside the place of worship.

She condemned the attack, noting that the use of tear gas inside a sacred space represented a violation of the sanctity of religious institutions and the safety of congregants who had gathered peacefully for worship.

The senator further called for speedy investigations into the incident, urging the police leadership to ensure that all officers or individuals found responsible are held fully accountable. She warned against shielding anyone involved and stressed that those found criminally liable should face the full force of the law.

“We expect you to speedily complete these investigations and hold to account any officer or person found culpable in this attack. Do not shield anyone and those who are criminally liable should face the full force of law.”

Maina also observed that this was not an isolated incident, pointing out that similar attacks have previously occurred in places of worship. She called for restraint by security agencies, stating that unless there is a clear and serious security threat, police officers should not deploy tear gas in churches or other religious spaces.

The attack

This comes after the attack, which saw the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, whisked to safety by his security team, after being teargassed in church

Veronicah Maina now joins the growing list of leaders who have come out to condemn the attack on Gachagua

Condemning the attack

The interior cabinet secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen was the first government official who came out to condemn the attack, stating that he had summoned the police IG, Douglas Kanja, to fast-track the investigations that saw Gachagua attacked while in church

Gachagua himself came out to dismiss Murkomen’s concerns, saying that there is no way the government can investigate a matter that, according to him, is complicit