Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen has been pressured to issue a public apology over the disruption of church service in Nyeri.
In a press statement dated 26th January 2025, The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) has condemned the police actions.
“The National Council of Churches of Kenya strongly condemns the disruption of the worship service at the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Witima Parish, Nyeri County,” read part of the statement.
This follows a Sunday incident when the police lobbed tear gas near ACK Witima church, attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, disrupting the service.
NCCK Cites Constitutional Violation at ACK Witima
NCCK has condemned the events of Sunday, January 25, 2026, when police disrupted an ongoing worship service at ACK Witima Parish.
Also Read: Rigathi Gachagua Goes Missing
The council said the incident amounted to a clear violation of Article 32(2) of the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees every person the right to manifest their religion or belief through worship, either individually or in community with others, in public or private.
The church body noted that freedom of worship is a non-derogable constitutional right and warned that interference with religious observance undermines the foundations of Kenya’s democratic and constitutional order.
According to the NCCK, the actions of the police infringed on the rights of congregants who were peacefully assembled for worship.
“The National Police Service violated the constitutional right to worship as provided for under Article 32 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya (2010). Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching, or observance, including observance of a day of worship,” said NCCK.
NCCK has pointed out that both the Public Order Act and the National Police Service Act provide specific guidelines where public gatherings may be interrupted, and for yesterday’s incident, the guidelines were not followed.
NCCK Demands an Apology from CS Murkomen
NCCK has demanded an unqualified public apology from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, to the Church and the wider religious community in Kenya.
“An unqualified apology from the Minister for Interior and the Inspector General of the National Police Service to the Church and the religious community in Kenya,” said NCCK.
The council has also called for the speedy interdiction, investigation, and prosecution of all police officers involved in attacks on churches during worship services.
Also Read: IG Kanja Establishes New Police Stations and Posts Across Counties
A Worrying Pattern of Church Disruptions
The NCCK further warned that police disruptions during church services have become a trend in the country.
“Before the incident at Witima in Nyeri County, Kenyans had witnessed 9 instances where police
attacked worshippers peacefully assembled in churches and services were ongoing.”
These incidents include
- October 4, 2020 – Police lobbed teargas at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Kenol.
- July 16, 2024 – Police disrupted a prayer service at Chosen Generation Church in Nakuru
- July 25, 2024 – Police deployed teargas at congregants gathered within the compounds of All Saints’ Cathedral (Anglican Church of Kenya) and the Holy Family Basilica (Catholic Church) in Nairobi.
- January 1, 2025 – Teargas canisters were released inside the Pentecostal Evangelistic
Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) Church in Nyandarua County. - July 20, 2025 – Police used teargas at the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Subukia, Nakuru County.
- November 30, 2025 – Police used teargas near the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Kariobangi North.
- January 11, 2026 – Police deployed teargas in and around the AIPCA Church at Kiamworia in Kiambu County.
- January 25, 2026, Teargas was used near the ACK Wairima Parish in Nyeri County.
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