By A, KNA
Religious leaders in Molo have condemned the use of places of worship to advance political interests, calling for respect and dignity for churches and other religious institutions. The leaders also demanded accountability from security agencies following a recent attack at a church in Nyeri County.
Led by Apostle Ben Maina and Pastor Charles Njenga, the clerics strongly criticised the attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, describing the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable. They urged political leaders to resolve their differences outside places of worship, which they said should remain neutral spaces for prayer, unity and peace.
Apostle Maina called on President William Ruto to publicly condemn the attack, saying such actions do not reflect the values of leadership and national unity. He further noted that security agencies should not be used to intimidate or harm citizens within sacred spaces.
“The police must not be used to cause chaos in places of worship. To date, the Inspector General of Police and the Cabinet Secretary for Interior have not conclusively addressed the matter,” Apostle Maina said.
The religious leaders called for an immediate reshuffle within the police service, citing what they termed as incompetence and weak leadership under the current Inspector General, Douglas Kanja. They argued that the incident exposed serious lapses in professionalism and command within the National Police Service.
Pastor Njenga expressed concern over reports that police officers allegedly escorted goons who vandalised vehicles and church property. He also condemned the alleged use of teargas inside the church, noting that women, children and elderly worshippers were present at the time.
“It is unimaginable that teargas could be lobbed inside a church. Such actions erode public trust in the police and portray the security agencies as tools of political intimidation,” said Pastor Njenga.
The leaders further called for political tolerance in the Mt. Kenya region, warning that incitement, hooliganism and intolerance could destabilise the economy and heighten anxiety among residents. They cautioned young politicians against being incited to attack senior leaders, saying such behaviour goes against the cultural values of the region.
Mt. Kenya is expected to play a key role in the 2027 General Election, with an estimated six million votes projected to influence the national outcome. With former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now leading the opposition, the clerics urged leaders to accommodate divergent political opinions and allow citizens to exercise their democratic rights freely.
“We must respect different political views. People from the Mt. Kenya region should not be victimised for holding alternative opinions. Political freedom is a cornerstone of any mature democracy,” Pastor Njenga added.
