Former Machakos senator and Parliamentary Service Commission commissioner Johnston Muthama has raised fresh questions about the role of political victimhood in Kenya’s electoral politics following the disruption of a Sunday church service at Witima ACK in Nyeri County.
The incident, in which tear gas was lobbed into the church as worshippers attended service, occurred in the presence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
It sparked public outrage and renewed debate over the intersection of politics, security, and sacred spaces.
In a statement shared on X, Muthama said violence or chaos in a place of worship sends a powerful and troubling message to the public.
He noted that churches are traditionally spaces of peace and unity, and any disruption there deepens fear, political tension, and mistrust in public institutions.
Muthama drew parallels with past incidents, including an October 2020 disruption at an AIPCA church in Kenol, Murang’a County, during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
That incident, which occurred when then–Deputy President William Ruto and other leaders were present, involved teargas and live bullets and left one person dead.
He also recalled a politically charged fracas at a burial in Taita Taveta County in August 2021, ahead of Ruto’s arrival.
According to Muthama, such incidents raise a critical question: whether chaos—whether state-driven or stage-managed—can translate into political advantage.
He argued that Ruto’s portrayal at the time as a leader isolated and mistreated within government helped shape a narrative that resonated with many Kenyans who felt excluded, potentially strengthening his political appeal.
However, Muthama cautioned that public sympathy is not guaranteed or permanent.
He said voters may initially react emotionally, but ultimately demand stability, credibility, and solutions to economic and social challenges.
If incidents appear exaggerated or manipulated, public sympathy can quickly turn into skepticism.
He further questioned whether similar events today would yield the same political outcomes, arguing that Kenyan voters are now more politically aware and critical.
Muthama warned that if evidence ever emerged of leaders orchestrating disruptions to gain sympathy, it would pose serious security and ethical concerns, including questions about who supplies weapons and enables such violence.
The Witima church incident remains under investigation as calls grow for accountability and restraint in Kenya’s increasingly tense political environment.