Kenya’s ex-deputy president Rigathi Gachagua alleges assassination attempt in church attack

Outstanding Kenyan opposition determine Rigathi Gachagua has alleged there was an try on his life throughout a Sunday church service.

Gachagua, who was sacked as deputy president in an impeachment trial in 2024, claimed a gang of rogue cops had attacked the church in Othaya within the central county of Nyeri, utilizing bullets and tear gasoline.

With out offering proof, he accused his former ally President William Ruto of ordering the assault. Ruto has not commented however Inside Minister Kipchumba Murkomen condemned the violence, calling it unacceptable.

The police mentioned an investigation had been launched, including that no accidents had been reported.

Experiences to the police indicated {that a} tear-gas canister had been thrown inside St Peters Anglican Church at 11:00 native time (08:00 GMT) disrupting the service.

A number of automobiles had been reportedly broken throughout the church compound, the police added, interesting for witnesses.

Gachagua, a rich businessman from the central Mount Kenya space and now a vocal critic of the president, mentioned he was escorted to security by his safety crew.

He had posted pictures of the incident on X and later held a information convention the place he dismissed options from pro-government bloggers that the assault had been stage-managed.

“The place can we get entry to tear gasoline?… The place will we get entry to AK-47 assault rifles?” the Democracy for the Residents Occasion chief requested.

Murkomen mentioned the police chief had promised him that the attackers could be delivered to justice.

“Violence wherever, and least of all in a spot of worship, is unacceptable,” the inside minister mentioned in a publish on X.

“The police should transfer with out worry or favour and deal decisively with the sponsors and perpetrators of this act with out regard to their standing in society or political affiliation.”

In line with Kenya’s structure, Gachagua’s conviction by the senate means he can not maintain public workplace once more.

He had pleaded not responsible to 11 prices of which he was discovered responsible of 5, together with inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of workplace.

Nevertheless the politician, popularly generally known as Riggy G, maintains he will likely be on the presidential poll subsequent yr as he’s interesting and the Supreme Court docket has not dominated on his impeachment.

Ruto and Gachagua had been elected on a joint ticket in 2022 – and the partnership helped Ruto win by marshalling help in Mount Kenya, the heartland of the Kikuyu people who find themselves the biggest voting bloc in Kenya.