Sunday worship turned into a scene of terror in Kariobangi North as police fired teargas inside a church compound where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies were attending a thanksgiving service celebrating the DCP Party’s victory in the Kariobangi North Ward by-election held on November 27.
Channel 15 has obtained exclusive footage showing children being evacuated from the church, screaming and scampering for safety, their eyes brimming with tears as they ran past clouds of teargas. The images capture the raw fear of the young congregants as adults struggled to shield them from the chaos.
Eyewitnesses said the drama unfolded shortly before noon at the PCEA church, when officers trailing Gachagua confronted a group of youths outside. What began as a tense standoff quickly escalated into pandemonium.
Teargas canisters hissed and smoke billowed across the street, forcing terrified worshippers to cover their faces with handkerchiefs and dash for safety.
“People were screaming and running in all directions. Some even jumped into nearby shops and homes to escape the smoke. It was total chaos,” said one shaken resident.
Inside the church, the normally serene service was briefly suspended as the tear gas seeped through windows and doors. Congregants struggled to catch their breath, coughing and waving cloths over their faces. Amid the commotion, Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Mejjadonk, a close ally of Gachagua, pressed on with his speech, keeping the service going for about five minutes before order was restored.
Outside, police officers remained on high alert, their presence a stark reminder of the tense political climate surrounding opposition leaders in Nairobi. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, but the incident left many residents in shock, questioning how a place of worship could descend into a battlefield in mere minutes.
Political analysts warn that the confrontation highlights the growing friction between opposition figures and law enforcement, with public spaces increasingly turning into flashpoints for violent clashes. “Sunday’s events are a stark example of how political rivalries are spilling into everyday life, even in sacred spaces,” one analyst noted.
As the smoke cleared, Kariobangi North was left to reckon with a chilling reminder: in Nairobi’s high-stakes political landscape, no place—not even a church—is safe from the storm of confrontation.
