By Njeri Irungu,
26 January 2026.
Nairobi, Kenya
GEMA Watho Association has strongly condemned the violent disruption of a church service at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, describing the incident as an unlawful and deeply troubling violation of constitutional rights and human dignity.
In a statement released on Monday, the Association — a national platform bringing together advocates from the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Kamba communities — said the reported use of tear gas, live ammunition and force against unarmed civilians and leaders inside a place of worship crossed a line that should never be breached.
“A church must remain a sanctuary,” the statement read. “Turning a place of worship into a scene of fear and violence is not normal, not acceptable, and not lawful.”
The Association warned that the Othaya incident reflects a broader and dangerous pattern in which violence and intimidation are becoming increasingly normalized around political activity. It further accused the government of creating space — through action and inaction — for criminal gangs and unlawful force to operate alongside state power, a trend it said undermines legitimate institutions and replaces authority with fear.
GEMA Watho Association faulted the National Police Service for abandoning its constitutional mandate to protect civilians, insisting that the police exist to preserve peace, not to manufacture chaos. It stressed that the badge is not a shield against accountability but a symbol of public trust that demands restraint, discipline and respect for life.
The Association called for the immediate intervention of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), urging it to launch prompt, independent and public investigations into the events at Witima ACK Church. It emphasized that accountability must extend beyond officers on the ground to include commanders and officials who planned, authorized or failed to stop the operation.
“Justice must be real, visible and uncompromising,” the statement said, warning that if IPOA fails to act with urgency, the Association is prepared to pursue private prosecutions as provided for under Kenyan law.
The group also invoked the lessons of the Waki Report, cautioning that state tolerance of organized violence and failure to hold security agencies accountable risks sliding the country toward systemic breakdown of the rule of law.
GEMA Watho Association directly called out Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, stating that they carry both personal and institutional responsibility for the conduct of the National Police Service. It added that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) must also act, noting that the alleged use of live ammunition, tear gas and destruction of property are constitutional and criminal matters, not public relations issues.
Addressing the public, the Association urged citizens to speak out and responsibly document violations using their mobile phones, stressing that evidence protects truth and restrains denial.
“You are not alone,” the statement said. “Silence only empowers abuse.”
Senior Counsel Wilfred Nderitu, who witnessed the events, warned of a growing culture of politically instigated violence and reminded the state that intolerance and repression can never cure civic dissent. He noted that attacks on places of worship constitute serious crimes under international law and cautioned that international criminal justice remains a relevant and effective tool.
Advocate Ndegwa Njiru echoed the concerns, describing the incident as “state terror” and warning that constitutional rights to worship and assembly must not be violated. He emphasized the principles of individual, criminal and command responsibility, stating that power, guns or uniforms do not grant immunity from the law.
He also called on those affected at Witima ACK Church to preserve and share any photographic or video evidence, saying legal remedies would be pursued to hold perpetrators accountable.
The statement was issued by GEMA Watho Association Chairman Wambugu Wanjohi, who reaffirmed the group’s commitment to defending the Constitution, the rule of law and human dignity.
“Kenya must never become a country where political violence is routine, gangs are legitimized, and accountability is optional,” the Association concluded. “The Constitution must remain our shield, and justice must remain non-negotiable.”
