CCTV exposes how goons stormed All Saints Cathedral during budget forum

Fresh details have emerged about the violent invasion of All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi by suspected hired goons who disrupted a post-budget dialogue forum on Friday, with CCTV footage shedding light on the sequence of events leading up to the attack.

The footage shows groups of men arriving on motorcycles at around 9 a.m. and attempting to force their way into the cathedral grounds, where civil society leaders, religious figures, lawyers and members of the public had gathered to discuss the implications of the 2026/27 national budget presented a day earlier.

According to accounts pieced together from the recordings, police officers stationed at the venue initially managed to repel the first group of attackers.

However, the gang reportedly turned on pedestrians along Valley Road and Kenyatta Avenue, robbing several people and causing panic in the area.

About 30 minutes later, the attackers returned, this time approaching the cathedral on foot. CCTV footage captures them entering the compound and making their way to the conference section where the forum was underway.

Inside the building, scenes of panic and confusion unfolded as participants scrambled for safety. Cameras installed on the second floor captured at least five suspected attackers confronting and robbing individuals attempting to flee to the upper floors. One police officer is seen trying to intervene but appeared overwhelmed by the unfolding chaos.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots outside the cathedral as security officers attempted to disperse the attackers and restore order.

The attackers are said to have overpowered security personnel at the entrance before advancing to the conference venue, where they destroyed materials and assaulted some participants.

Police later arrested one suspect who was taken to Kibra Police Station for questioning.

Authorities have yet to provide a comprehensive update on the investigation or indicate whether additional arrests have been made.

The incident has triggered widespread condemnation from religious leaders, legal practitioners and human rights organizations, who questioned how such an attack could occur in broad daylight at one of Nairobi’s most prominent places of worship.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) described the attack as a blatant and despicable desecration of a sacred place of worship and demanded that those behind it be held accountable.

The council called on the Inspector General of Police to publicly identify the masterminds and ensure their arrest and prosecution. NCCK also questioned allegations that a government official may have sponsored the disruption of the forum and demanded immediate action against anyone found culpable.

“The right of Kenyans to access information held by the State, as guaranteed under Article 35 of the Constitution, must be respected,” the council said.

The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) also condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on democratic engagement and dialogue.

“The violent disruption of a peaceful public forum is unacceptable and undermines democratic engagement and dialogue,” the council said in a statement.

Similarly, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Defenders Coalition called for swift investigations and prosecution of those responsible, warning that the growing use of organised gangs to intimidate citizens and disrupt lawful gatherings posed a serious threat to constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.

The Defenders Coalition further expressed concern over what it described as coordinated attacks targeting civil society organizations, human rights defenders and democratic institutions, saying the incidents appeared designed to intimidate and silence groups carrying out legitimate civic work.

The disrupted forum had brought together representatives from civil society organizations, faith-based groups, the private sector and members of the public to analyze the 2026/27 budget and its impact on ordinary Kenyans.