Nakuru: Jimi Wanjigi, Jubilee Politicians Teargassed After Attending Church Service At Ndabibi Farm

• The former presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi said that he attended the function to sympathise with the residents of Ndabibi who alleged mistreatment
• They questioned why they were teargassed and their function disrupted, yet they intended to pray peacefully but got no explanation
• Wanjigi accused President William Ruto of sending the security guards to the function to send them away

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nakuru - Chaos erupted at the contentious Ndabibi farm estate in Naivasha when police barred politicians and locals from holding a church event.

Safina party leader Jimi Wanjigi, former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni, and Zach Kinuthia were among the leaders who had graced the Sunday, April 21, thanksgiving ceremony.

Despite their insistence on proceeding with the thanksgiving prayers, police resorted to teargas to disperse them.

Who invited Jimi Wanjigi to Ndabibi farm?

The businessman stated that he attended the event to show support for Ndabibi residents, who he claimed were facing mistreatment from the government.

"The people of Ndabibi have long expressed their grievances against the oppression brought upon them by William Ruto, a man who had taken an oath to protect them. As a result, I will be joining them today in a thanksgiving prayer event, to show solidarity with their plight," he said.

Wanjigi, a former presidential aspirant, criticised the actions, accusing President William Ruto of orchestrating the police intervention.

"It is absolutely unacceptable for Ruto to colonise and displace the people of Ndabibi from their homes and then send his men to disrupt their prayer sessions with tear gas. Kenyans have every right to worship in peace and should not be subjected to such unjust treatment," added Wanjigi.

Why were Jimi Wanjigi and other politicians teargassed?

In a video, the politicians are seen questioning one of the officers about the disruption and the use of teargas, emphasising their intention to pray peacefully.

However, the officer declined to explain, instead questioning why they chose the farm for their worship.

They further lamented being denied their constitutional rights to pray.

Who owns the controversial Ndabibi farm?

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara insisted that Ruto is the legal owner of the land, claiming a section of local leaders were behind a syndicate of land grabbers targeting unsuspecting owners.

Kihara explained that the head of state bought the 5000-acre land from former president Daniel Moi's diplomat, Benjamin Kulei.

However, in 2023, the Nakuru High Court ruled that Kulei was not entitled to the land as he did not produce the land sale agreement to support his claim.