Starehe MP Amos Mwago has called for a full investigation into the tear gas incident that disrupted a Sunday thanksgiving ceremony at Kariobangi North PCEA Church, where former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua was reportedly present.
The incident, which unfolded during celebrations for newly elected Kariobangi North MCA David Wanyoike, has revived concerns over political confrontations in Nairobi’s grassroots spaces.
Mwago, in a statement posted on X, criticised those behind the disruption and urged authorities to act swiftly. He said the use of force inside a religious institution risked eroding the country’s commitment to peaceful political engagement.
According to the MP, the disruption amounted to “heinous, state-sponsored goons unleashed against Rigathi Gachagua and other dignitaries,” a move he argued required immediate accountability.
The Kariobangi church event was one of the first major gatherings following the ward by-election, a contest that drew significant attention due to shifting political alignments in Nairobi.
Local churches often serve as central meeting points for leaders engaging with constituents, a practice that has shaped Nairobi’s political culture since the reintroduction of multiparty politics.
The use of tear gas within such a space has therefore raised broader questions about the conduct of political actors and security operations.
Mwago warned that Kenya’s democratic values could be undermined if violence becomes a feature of routine political activities.
He argued that places of worship should remain neutral grounds free from intimidation, noting that communities depend on them for social cohesion.
“Such orchestrated chaos inside a place of worship is an assault on democracy, a betrayal of our national values, and a dangerous attempt to intimidate leaders and silence free political expression,” he added in the same statement.
While video clips shared online showed confusion among congregants, the circumstances leading to the deployment of tear gas remain unclear.