Senator Methu clears air about his safety after Othaya church attack
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 25, 2026Nyandarua Senator John Methu Muhia has said he is safe after supporters raised concerns about his wellbeing following the Othaya church attack.
Methu thanked Kenyans who checked on him in a post on X on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
“I am safe. Thank you all for checking,” he wrote. He then launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of using state power to silence critics.
In the same post, Methu addressed the president directly. He accused Ruto of hiding behind security agencies and said intimidation would not stop the opposition. In a follow-up message, the senator said that bullets and tear gas would not prevent Ruto from becoming a “WanTam President”.
“Kill whomever you want, the rest will carry on with the sacred duty of freeing Kenya from your brutality. You are a coward who hides behind state instruments of violence. Bullets and teargas cannot save you from becoming a WanTam president. It’s not the police who made you president.”
Methu’s comments came on the same day as a violent incident at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attended a church service there when police fired teargas inside the building.
The gas caused panic as worshippers ran for safety. Witnesses reported live bullets outside the church, and several vehicles were damaged or burnt.
Gachagua escapes, accuses state
After the incident, Gachagua said he had escaped safely and reached his Wamunyoro residence. In a post on X, he thanked residents of Othaya who helped his security team evacuate him. He urged supporters who had gathered in Othaya Town and Kiawara to go home peacefully.
Gachagua claimed that a “killer squad” backed by local police remained in the area. He said he did not know their intentions after what he described as a failed attempt to assassinate him inside a church. The government has denied these claims.
Later, Gachagua responded to accusations that he staged the attack. He dismissed the claims as propaganda by government bloggers. He questioned how he could access tear gas or assault rifles, arguing that such weapons were not available to civilians.
Senator Methu is a close ally of Gachagua and has faced similar confrontations with police before. On January 9, 2026, police fired teargas at their convoy in Sagana, Kirinyaga County, as they travelled to a public event in Kagio. After that incident, Methu accused the state of intimidation and vowed that police action would not weaken the opposition’s resolve.
The Othaya church incident drew strong reactions from political leaders. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka called the police actions unconstitutional and said security agencies had a duty to protect all Kenyans, including those in places of worship.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i described the use of tear gas in a church as barbaric and called for an independent investigation. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said investigations into the Othaya incident are ongoing.