Gachagua alleges killer squad sent to kill

Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya's former vice president, claimed that President William Ruto had a "hit squad" assassinate him on January 25, 2026, during a chaotic church service at the Witima ACK Church in Othaya. The Witima ACK Church refers to the Anglican congregation of the Church of Kenya (ACK) in Witima, Othaya, Nyeri County, Kenya. Former Vice President Rigathi Gachagua linked President William Ruto to a sinister conspiracy after a Sunday church service descended into chaos. What happened? The incident occurred during a Sunday service. Gachagua stated that state security forces used live ammunition and tear gas and locked worshippers inside the church. Videos showed panic, smoke, and a girl unconscious. Gachagua's vehicles were reportedly set on fire. He called for prayers for survival live on television and described the attack as targeted violence, not a measure to disperse a crowd. Political reactions were swift. Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the attack as a violation of the constitution in a sacred space and blamed Inspector General Douglas Kanja. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen ordered an investigation into the violence. Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party, linked it to previous allegedly “state-sponsored” incidents and announced a large rally in Othaya, supported by figures such as Martha Karua. Similar claims had surfaced previously, for example in May 2025, when Gachagua alleged that a state commando was planning to poison him or stage his arrest for murder. These allegations exacerbated tensions in Kenyan politics, though they remained unconfirmed until the end of January 2026. https://www.pulse.co.ke/story/gachagua-alleges-killer-squad-sent-to-kill-him-as-kalonzo-condemns-chaos-2026012509590680321