Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has hit out at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following a press statement regarding the security incident that occurred during former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s church attendance at PCEA Mwiki church on April 6, 2025.
In a media interview on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Gakuya took issue with apparent suggestions that Gachagua should have notified the police about his church attendance plans, describing such requirements as unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional.
“This has never been a courtesy that one has to report to police that the former DP will be attending a service of a church from anywhere in this country. Unless the state is now telling us this will be the new trend, then it needs to be made clear,” Gakuya stated, questioning the legal basis for such expectations.
The MP highlighted what he perceives as a double standard in security protocols, pointing to President William Ruto’s recent tour of the Mt. Kenya region.
“We have witnessed the Head of State touring the whole of Mt Kenya region without any click of violence. So why would Gachagua be hunted as if he is a robber or a murderer?” he posed.
Gakuya went on to accuse the government of eroding constitutional freedoms, likening the situation to a drift toward authoritarianism.
“Has this country gone off its constitutional path and slipped into a banana republic?” he asked.
“If that’s the case, then it needs to be said clearly. Because anyone in leadership—especially the Head of State—must protect people and their property. That is a fundamental duty.”
According to Gakuya, the expectation that politicians must now alert police before engaging in public worship is not only discriminatory but opens the door to political profiling.
“For sure, anybody who is in a position and especially the head of state, what he must do is to protect people and their properties. Those two businesses are terminal that people must be protected whether they are politicians or not. They deserve protection,” he rallied.
DCI statement
The MP’s comments come in the wake of a detailed statement from the DCI, which attributed Sunday’s chaos at the church to a large group of boda boda riders trailing Gachagua’s motorcade from Kangundo Road.
The group reportedly disrupted the service by demanding handouts from leaders in attendance.
The DCI said the gunfire heard on the church grounds came from Gachagua’s VIP security team and licensed civilian firearm holders acting in self-defence, after the group allegedly damaged vehicles and church property.
Local police from Mwiki responded and managed to disperse the crowd, detaining several individuals and impounding at least 10 motorcycles.
According to the DCI, the church failed to notify authorities in advance that political figures would be present — a lapse they say made it difficult to deploy adequate security for the event.
“The ongoing investigations aim to bring to book those responsible for the regrettable incident, which is one among several witnessed recently in various parts of the country,” the statement read.
The agency also cautioned against disorderly conduct at public gatherings, urging leaders and organizers to engage law enforcement proactively.
“Incidents involving violence and intimidation not only tarnish the sanctity of community events but also pose a significant threat to the well-being of all attendees,” the DCI warned.