Opposition Vows Legal Action Against Kindiki After Meru Church Standoff
Leaders allied to Kenya’s United Opposition have threatened legal action against Kithure Kindiki following a dramatic confrontation at a church event in Meru County that prevented them from attending a Sunday service.
The incident occurred on March 8 at Kaaga Methodist Church, where political leaders allied to the opposition claim they were denied entry by security officers while attempting to attend the induction ceremony of a bishop. The leaders later held a separate service at EATC Njotene Church, where they accused the government of using security agencies to block their participation.
Speaking during the alternative service, Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement, described the incident as a serious violation of political and religious freedoms.
“This morning, the United Opposition was denied the chance to witness the induction of a good bishop,” Kalonzo told congregants, outlining what he said was the opposition’s account of the events.
According to the opposition leader, security officers stationed at the church compound allegedly blocked their entry, preventing them and their supporters from accessing the venue.
“This is a deliberate act of political repression carried out at the House of God,” Kalonzo said, adding that the situation raised concerns about the use of state power to limit political participation.
The standoff has intensified an already tense political environment in the region, with opposition leaders accusing the government of intimidation while government officials maintain that political activities must not disrupt public order.
Kalonzo directly accused Deputy President Kindiki of orchestrating the move, claiming the security deployment was intended to prevent opposition figures from attending the same church event where the deputy president was present.
“The deputy president used the police to bar citizens from worshipping freely. That is not governance. Those are marks of a regime gripped with fear,” Kalonzo said.
He added that the opposition coalition would pursue legal remedies over the incident.
“We shall be pursuing all available legal and constitutional avenues in response to what happened in Meru today,” he said.
Also present at the Njotene service was former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who echoed similar claims and accused the government of attempting to block opposition leaders from engaging with residents in the region.
Gachagua alleged that their planned attendance at the Kaaga Methodist Church ceremony had been formally arranged, but security measures were imposed shortly before the event.
“We had been invited by the bishop to Kaaga Methodist to witness his inauguration, but when we got to Meru someone attached to President William Ruto called Kindiki tried to stop us,” Gachagua claimed.
The former deputy president also alleged that security agencies, including members of the General Service Unit, had been deployed in large numbers around the church compound.
“There were many police officers and GSU personnel stationed around the church to restrict entry,” he said.
Despite the confrontation, opposition leaders insisted that the incident would not deter them from continuing their political activities across the country.
They vowed to maintain their public engagement campaigns while challenging what they described as growing political intimidation by the state.
Political analysts say the church standoff highlights the increasingly charged atmosphere surrounding political engagements in the country, particularly as rival camps seek to consolidate support ahead of future electoral contests.
As the dispute unfolds, legal experts say any court challenge by opposition leaders could test the boundaries between security enforcement, political freedom, and the constitutional right to worship and assemble freely in Kenya.
ALSO READ: Deputy President Kindiki Hits Back at Gachagua Over Alleged Political Incitement
Opposition Vows Legal Action Against Kindiki After Meru Church Standoff
