Police arrested at least 15 suspects following chaos that erupted at a church event attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Gatundu, Kiambu County.
A church service attended by Gachagua and other leaders was disrupted on Sunday by violent clashes between rival youth groups outside the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kiamworia, Gatundu South.
Police said the groups, armed with batons, engaged in a standoff outside the church, prompting police to deploy teargas to disperse the youths.
The confrontation also disrupted traffic along the Kiamworia-Gatundu South Road and resulted in three vehicles being vandalized. Their windows were shattered.
The driver of one of the vehicles was accused of ferrying the youths to the area.
Several members of the congregation suffered teargas inhalation as the fumes spread inside the church, with worshippers describing the scene as chaotic.
Three police officers were injured in the chaos.
The officers managed to contain the riotous mob at around 3 pm and those holed up in the church left.
Police said they arrested 15 suspects in the drama and will face charges of causing malicious damage to property and participating in unlawful assembly.
Addressing the incident, Gachagua accused the government of allowing the disruption, alleging that state authorities sent “goons” to the church while leaving police to protect them.
During the service, Gachagua also defended former President Uhuru Kenyatta against claims of attempting to divide the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), noting Kenyatta’s role in securing votes for his party in past elections.
Gachagua further criticized some leaders for failing to invest in education infrastructure, highlighting his party’s initiatives in building schools.
He was accompanied by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, and Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo, among other leaders.
It is not the first time that an event attended by Gachagua is being disrupted by goons.
Gachagua has been complaining that the chaos are intentionally caused by government goons.
The police have denied the claims and added they are still investigating the incidents that have left property damaged.
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