Wamuzi News Ke
In a sudden escalation of political tensions, leaders aligned with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have turned to the International Criminal Court (ICC), demanding an independent probe into alleged security force brutality during a church service in Kigumo, Murang’a.
On Monday, July 28, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu and Nyandarua Senator John Methu, among other Gachagua allies, issued a blistering appeal to the international community, accusing Kenyan police of using excessive force—including live bullets and tear gas—against opposition-aligned leaders and congregants. The senators decried the authorities as agents of political repression rather than public protection.
Nyutu described the assault as a calculated attack on democratic rights. “Please do not kill us. Do not allow security apparatus to be controlled by politicians,” he implored, calling for the ICC to step in, as domestic channels have reportedly failed to account for the violence.
From Prayer to Peril
According to eyewitnesses, the group had gathered at AIPCA Kahuro Church for a peaceful service on July 27. As dignitaries exited, they encountered police blockades that escalated into chaos. Senator Methu attempted dialogue with officers, questioning: “What have we done? What is the problem with addressing the people?” before tear gas canisters forced the group to flee.
Vehicles were damaged and multiple gunshots were fired. Hostile masked individuals were also reported among the officers present. Senator Jamleck Kamau, a past victim of police aggression, stated the firing “was not aimed at the feet” and indicated it could have been a deliberate assassination attempt.
Kamau recalled, “If you look at where the bullet holes are positioned, you will see they were not aiming at my feet… if I died today, what would you have told my children?”.
Demand for Accountability
Legal and political circles reacted swiftly. Advocate Ndegwa Njiru, present at the scene, warned that the group intends to document the violence with recovered bullets and submit them to judicial systems, including IPOA—though skepticism over internal accountability remains high. Njiru has urged international human rights groups to monitor the situation closely.
Political Flashpoint Ahead of Elections
The incident compounds existing friction between Gachagua and President William Ruto’s administration. It also signals a deeper strategy by opposition-aligned leaders to internationalize allegations of state-sanctioned violence. That approach follows a wider push earlier this year by Gachagua and parliamentarians for independent inquiries into politically motivated abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Opposition leaders have long expressed concern that security organs have been co-opted for political ends. Analysts warn that the Murang’a clash may now crystallize into a litmus moment for both democratic freedoms and political legitimacy in Kenya.
