“I Don’t Know Him”: Kindiki Denies Links to Officer Named in Witima ACK Church Chaos

By : Mweru Mbugua

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has firmly dismissed claims by his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, that he was behind the violent chaos that erupted at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County

The Sunday incident saw masked police officers allegedly fire live bullets, lob teargas at worshippers, and vandalise vehicles in Gachagua’s convoy, forcing his evacuation through a fence. Gachagua has since described the incident as a State-sponsored assassination attempt linked to rising political tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election

On Monday, January 26, Gachagua took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to accuse Kindiki of orchestrating the attack. He shared a photograph showing a man seated behind the Deputy President, claiming the individual was the police officer who led the church violence

In the post, Gachagua’s team circled the individual in red, with Gachagua writing:
“Bwana Soprano, I hear you are calling for investigations. This is your officer who led the attack in Witima ACK Church. You are part and parcel of the conspiracy”

Kindiki responded swiftly, categorically distancing himself from the individual in question and denying any involvement in violence or criminal activity

“Good evening Wamitego: The image you have circled is not of any officer or staff attached to me. I don’t know who that is,” Kindiki wrote

“I know you are desperate to associate me in whatever way with the criminal act involving you yesterday. Unfortunately for you, this is not where to find me”

While condemning the Witima church attack, Kindiki reiterated that violence has no place in his political approach, urging Gachagua to stop linking him to what he termed “politics of criminalism

“I condemned and will continue to condemn the backward behaviour of using violence to transact politics, whether by notam, haftam, wantam or tutam people,” he stated

 Also read : Family Seeks Probe into Death of Man Allegedly Injured in Police Custody in Makueni

The Deputy President also called on authorities to ensure that those responsible for organising the violence are held accountable, warning that failure to act could have serious consequences for the country

Earlier, Kindiki had dismissed claims of State-sponsored violence in Othaya, suggesting the chaos at Witima ACK Church may have been a “self-staged” incident designed to attract political sympathy

“Violence, whether organised by political opponents or self-inflicted for sympathy, is a criminal act,” Kindiki said, casting doubt on Gachagua’s version of events

Gachagua, however, maintains that the teargassing of worshippers, firing of live rounds, torching of vehicles and his forced evacuation were part of a deliberate, State-linked plot against him