As teargas choked the air and gunfire rang out in Nairobi’s streets, dozens of young protestors reportedly ran toward CITAM Valley Road church seeking safety behind its towering gates.
But many say they found them shut.
Christ Is The Answer Ministries (CITAM), a well-known evangelical church located in the heart of Nairobi, is now facing a storm of criticism online and from public figures after allegations emerged that it turned away protestors fleeing violence during the June 25 demonstrations.
“They locked the gates on us,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “They saw people running for their lives and still turned them away.”
Another added bitterly, “Cash is the Answer Ministry, not Christ. Shame on you.”
The protests marking a tense anniversary of last year’s deadly tax uprising left at least 16 people dead, according to Amnesty Kenya. Demonstrators had filled the streets to demand government accountability and protest the controversial tax proposals, in what many called a “youth-led revolution.”
As police moved in with live rounds and tear gas, social media lit up with urgent calls telling protestors to head to CITAM Valley Road for refuge. Known for its spacious grounds and central location, the church had been viewed as a potential safe haven in moments of crisis.
But by afternoon, several reports on the ground painted a different picture.
“I saw young people pounding on the gate, pleading to be let in,” said one local resident who asked not to be named. “They were terrified. The church didn’t open.”
The incident sparked immediate backlash online, with the hashtag #CITAMValleyRoad trending across Kenya.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, a vocal advocate for civil liberties, did not hold back.
“What CITAM did is deeply disappointing,” he posted. “This is not the gospel we preach. Where is the humanity?”
Despite the mounting pressure, CITAM had not issued an official statement by Thursday morning. Multiple attempts to reach their communications office for comment were unsuccessful.
Churches in Kenya have historically played a role in sheltering people during moments of unrest, often opening their doors to the wounded or displaced. For many, the alleged actions of CITAM felt like a betrayal of that legacy.
Not everyone rushed to condemn the church, though. Some supporters argued that CITAM may have feared being overwhelmed or targeted, given the volatile nature of the protests.
“There’s a lot we don’t know yet,” one user countered. “It’s easy to judge from afar.”
Even so, the outrage speaks to something deeper a growing sense of disillusionment with institutions once seen as moral anchors.
Amid the grief, anger, and confusion, one question echoed loudly online: Where should people run when even the church shuts its doors?
