By Dorothy Musyoka
A section of religious leaders and human rights activists in Mombasa have strongly condemned the use of teargas and violence that disrupted a church service at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, on Sunday, terming the incident a violation of the sanctity of places of worship and the Constitution.
The incident occurred during a worship service and forced congregants to flee in panic as chaos erupted inside the church.
The leaders expressed deep concern over the use of force in a sacred space, warning that such actions endanger innocent lives and erode public trust in security institutions.
Speaking at the offices of Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) in Mombasa, Reverend Melchizedek Anyumba, who led the delegation, called on security agencies to respect all places of worship, whether churches or mosques.
“We want all places of worship to be respected,” Rev. Anyumba said.
Rev. Anyumba further urged the government to put in place measures to prevent similar incidents, particularly as the country approaches future election periods.
Imam Ali Mohammad of Masjid Salam Bondeni echoed the sentiments, emphasizing that places of worship must remain zones of peace and refuge.
“Places of worship are sacred.When people storm in and cause chaos, it is a tragedy that saddens us as a nation. There are proper procedures that must be followed,” Imam Mohammad said.
The leaders jointly appealed to the government to safeguard churches, mosques, and other religious institutions from disruptions and violence.
Salma Hemed, Chief Executive Officer of She Rises Organization, highlighted the heightened risks such incidents pose to women and children, who form the majority of worshippers.
“When chaos erupts, women and children are the most affected,” Hemed said.
“How is a child or a pregnant woman expected to run for their lives without getting injured? We are deeply disappointed by these actions,” Hemed posed.
Human rights activist Walid Sketty from Vocal Africa described the incident as a constitutional violation.
“We are protecting the Constitution.The Inspector General of Police has a responsibility to ensure Kenyans are safe. Together with religious leaders, we are saying enough is enough we are not ready for pre- or post-election violence,” Sketty said.
Francis Ouma, MUHURI’s Rapid Response Officer, termed the incident an act of impunity and raised concerns over accountability within the security sector.
“The police are getting away with such actions because of impunity.We want action, and we want those affected to record statements so that accountability can be pursued,” Ouma stated.
He further called on Parliament and relevant security oversight committees to exercise independence in their mandate to oversee security agencies.
The condemnation comes amid reports that authorities have ordered investigations into the Othaya incident.
Leaders across the country have similarly voiced concern over the use of force in places of worship, calling for restraint, accountability and respect for the sanctity of religious institutions.
Read more: http://Dr. Fred Matiang’i Condemns Gachagua Attack at Witima ACK Church,Othaya