Muturi Accuses Government Of ‘Political Theatrics’ After Opposition Blocked From Meru Church

By Staff Writer

Former Attorney-General Justin Muturi has accused the government of malice and unnecessary political theatrics after opposition leaders were allegedly blocked by police from attending a church service in Meru County.

Muturi said the heavy security deployment at a Methodist church in Meru turned a place of worship into a political arena, arguing that churches should remain neutral spaces for prayer.

The standoff occurred on Sunday at Kaaga Methodist Church where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki attended the induction of a new bishop under the Methodist Church in Kenya.

Allies of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and other opposition leaders said their advance teams were denied entry to the church compound, triggering a brief confrontation with police officers stationed outside.

Muturi, who later attended an alternative service with the opposition team in Buuri Constituency, said the state had no justification for deploying security officers around a religious gathering.

He added that political leaders should respect religious institutions and avoid turning church events into platforms for rivalry and power displays. He said the heavy police presence turned a house of prayer into a theatre of intimidation.

“Places of worship are meant for reflection and spiritual nourishment, not for political contests or displays of state power. Such actions reflect malice and unnecessary political theatrics,” he stated.

Opposition leaders later attended a separate service at East Africa Pentecostal Church in Njotene, Meru County, after the standoff prevented them from joining the event attended by the deputy president.

Videos circulating online showed a heavy police presence around the Methodist church, with opposition allies questioning why they were denied entry despite claiming they had been invited.

Some opposition figures also alleged that security officers had been deployed around their hotel overnight, saying the move was aimed at preventing them from attending the church service.

By the time of publication, neither the Deputy President’s office nor the National Police Service had issued an official response to the accusations by opposition leaders.