Democracy for the Citizens’ Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader, Cleophas Malala, has described the teargassing of DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua and worshippers at Witima ACK Church in Nyeri as reminiscent of the horrors of the 2007/08 post-election violence.

Speaking on a local media station on Sunday, January 25, 2025, Malala said the events left him reliving the agony experienced by victims of past political violence, including the Kiambaa church massacre, where many mothers and children lost their lives.

“I must start by saying that today was such a horrific day. And I quickly flash back on the 2007-2008 post-election violence. Since there were no survivors in the Kiambaa church massacre, nobody is there to tell the story. For once, I felt the pain and agony that those mothers and children went through before they met their ultimate death,” Malala said.

Attack during church service

He recounted the chaos at the church, describing how the attack unfolded just as the service was getting underway.

“It was quite a horrific scene. We had just started the service and were barely even a third into the service, we had tear gas all over the compound, gunshots, live bullets,” he stated.

According to Malala, children who attempted to leave the church encountered violence from police officers.

“When children tried to go out to the church, they met with police officers beating them, harassing our mothers, harassing the clergy, and even going ahead to touch our party leaders’ vehicles. They destroyed most of our vehicles that had parked there,” he said.

Malala further accused police officers of facilitating the attack by escorting suspected thugs in police vehicles.

“To my surprise, police officers were escorting goons using a police vehicle. The number plates have been exposed by our party leader today. That was such a horrific moment,” he added.

Police launch investigations

The incident has since sparked public outrage and renewed calls for investigations into the alleged involvement of state-linked actors.

In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed it is investigating the disruption of a church service at St Peter’s ACK Church in Witima on Sunday morning.

“The National Police Service has taken note of a deeply regrettable incident that took place at about 11 am at St Peter’s ACK Church, Witima, Othaya, Nyeri County, where several political figures, including DCP leader Hon Rigathi Gachagua, were in attendance,” the statement read.

The NPS said the Regional Police Commander for Central had directed the Nyeri Criminal Investigations Officer to secure the scene and commence investigations, while the Inspector General ordered the Internal Affairs Unit to move in with urgency.

“The National Police Service abhors all forms of violence. Those found to have perpetrated this callous disruption of a church service shall be dealt with firmly and swiftly as per the law,” the statement ad