Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has strongly denied any involvement in the attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a church service in Othaya, Nyeri County. Wamumbi, speaking on Tuesday, January 27, distanced himself from the chaos that occurred on Sunday at Witima ACK Church.

Churches in Kenya are increasingly becoming battlegrounds for political conflicts, highlighted by a recent teargas incident at a church in Nyeri County. This development comes as the role of the pulpit in President William Ruto's political rise is being re-evaluated amidst escalating tensions.

A recent incident saw suspected plain-clothes police officers deploy teargas into the Witima Anglican Church of Kenya in Othaya, Nyeri County, on January 25, 2026, causing people to flee for safety. This event highlights the growing entanglement of churches in Kenya's political landscape, where even President William Ruto's rise to power was significantly influenced by the pulpit.