Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was temporarily blocked from leaving the ACK Cathedral in Nyeri Town on Sunday, March 23, after a confrontation broke out between a crowd and local residents.
Videos circulating online show the heated exchange, which prompted police officers to intervene.
Earlier in the day, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu took to social media, alleging that a group of individuals had gathered outside the church, mobilized from Mathira, with the intent of confronting the former DP when he left the consecration ceremony of Bishop Mureithi at ACK Cathedral.
“So there are goons outside our church mobilized from Mathira to cause chaos when HE Rigathi leaves the consecration of Bishop Mureithi at ACK Cathedral, Nyeri Town,” Wambugu wrote.
“Another one of those weird ideas to fight RiggyG that build him up even more.”
Reports from the scene suggested that the group began gathering while Gachagua was still inside the church and immediately confronted attendees as soon as he stepped outside.
Unconfirmed reports also indicated that some people were injured during the altercation.
This chaos wasn’t the only unusual occurrence during the event.
Some Kenyans on social media alleged that Kenya Power intentionally cut off electricity to disrupt the service.
However, Kenya Power quickly dismissed these claims, explaining that the planned power outage in Nyeri Town was part of scheduled maintenance, with prior notice issued the day before.
“Good afternoon sir, Kindly note that various parts of Nyeri County and its environs were scheduled for planned maintenance today, March 23, as circulated on our platforms.
This is to ensure the provision of continuous and reliable power,” a statement from Kenya Power read in response to online criticism.
Gachagua was attending the church service at an ACK church where, starting Sunday, March 16, politicking was banned.
ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit had announced that political leaders would only be allowed to wave and be briefly introduced during services at all ACK churches nationwide.
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