Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of sending goons to disrupt a church service he was attending at PCEA Kasarani East Parish on Sunday.
According to Gachagua, the attackers stormed the premises during the service but were repelled by his security team. Taking the podium shortly after the incident, a visibly angry Gachagua accused President Ruto and Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja of orchestrating the attack, condemning what he termed as sacrilegious political aggression.
“I didn’t mind having goons sent after me elsewhere, but inside a church, Mr. President? What happened to you?” Gachagua questioned. “You’ve become bold. You no longer care that you’re sending them through the Governor of Nairobi to disrupt worship.”
The former Deputy President also alleged that senior police officials had instructed officers to stand down during the attempted attack, noting that only a few undercover officers volunteered to assist. He implied this was a coordinated effort to intimidate him, warning that any move to “eliminate” him would only complicate Ruto’s political calculations.
“Even if you eliminate Rigathi Gachagua, nothing will change. It will only complicate your politics further. We have enough soldiers to continue the struggle,” he warned defiantly.
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu echoed Gachagua’s sentiments, condemning the incident and demanding accountability. “If Ruto and Sakaja were involved, it’s unacceptable. You cannot bring politics to a place where we worship God,” Nyutu stated.
The rift between Ruto and Gachagua has deepened since the latter’s impeachment in October 2024. Gachagua has since positioned himself as the defiant voice of Mt. Kenya, openly criticizing the administration and calling for a political realignment in the region.
President Ruto, however, dismissed the fallout as inconsequential, asserting his decades-long bond with the Mt. Kenya community remains unshaken. “This is not a friendship of months but one built over decades,” Ruto remarked during a vernacular media roundtable.
The incident now adds fresh tension to an already strained relationship, signaling a possible intensification of political battles ahead.
