The Kenya National Commission on human rights have condemned the incident where teargas was lobbed on worshippers at an ACK church at Witima in Othaya constituency that was reported on Sunday, January 25, 2026, terming it as an indiscriminate act.

In a statement posted on their social media handles on Monday, the KNCHR has said that the peaceful Sunday service attended by worshippers, among them children and elderly persons, had no lawful jurisdiction or reasonable cause.

“During the peaceful Sunday service attended by worshippers, including children and elderly persons, police officers, some of whom were hooded contrary to court orders that all officers must be identifiable, reportedly deployed teargas within the place of worship without any lawful justification or reasonable cause. The use of force in this circumstance was excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate, particularly given the confined nature of the place and the presence of vulnerable persons,” KNCHR stated.

In addition, the KNCHR has noted with concern the increasing cases of these concerns of attacks on places of worship arising from political tension, where citizens are subjected to tension castigated by the state and non-state actors, including the use of goons. The commission has said that this trend poses a threat to human rights and risk to conflict.

Additionally, the Commission on Human Rights has noted that this use of teargas on worshippers is reckless and cannot be justified in the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution of 2010

In this case, the commission has called for appropriate measures to be taken pursuant to the provisions of the constitution and wants the Inspector General of police, the Independence Polising Oversight Authrority and the Ministry of interior and national administration to get responsible for this act, carry out investigations into the matter, issue a public apology and bring to book any culpable culprits involved in the unfortunate act.

The KNCHR  has further committed to continue monitoring the investigations and subsequent proceedings to ensure justice is served and impunity is addressed in order to protect the rights of all Kenyans in equal measures.