The two leaders, who were attending a fundraiser for the Kenya Anglican Men's Association, said the violence was not spontaneous and vowed to address the matter in detail during a media briefing on Monday.

"We intend to hold a media briefing tomorrow on the events that took place in Kisumu," Orengo said.

The governor alleged that the attack bore the hallmarks of a coordinated operation and claimed there was evidence linking some leaders to the violence.

"What happened today did not happen by accident. The boldness, the audacity and the level of organisation behind the violence point to the hand of the state," he said.

Orengo thanked the Anglican Church leadership for remaining steadfast during the chaos and praised worshippers for staying calm despite the disruption outside the cathedral.

Sifuna said he had travelled to Kisumu at the invitation of Governor Orengo and the Anglican Church leadership to attend the church fundraiser.

"We came here for prayers on the invitation of the governor and the leadership of the Anglican Church in Kisumu," he said.

The Nairobi senator thanked Kisumu residents for ensuring that leaders and worshippers were safely ev The Staracuated after violence erupted outside the church.

Sifuna claimed similar violence had targeted members of the Linda Mwananchi movement in Nyahururu on the same day, saying the incidents would not derail the group's activities.

"I think everybody in the country can now tell that Linda Mwananchi has unsettled people in very high places. They think that the only way to deal with us is through violence. We are saying this will not work," he said.

Maintaining that the movement would not be intimidated, Sifuna said its leaders would continue pushing for change despite the attacks.

"We are not going to be intimidated. This country has to be rescued," he said.

The senator condemned the attack on worshippers, saying no Kenyan should face violence while exercising the constitutional rights to worship and peaceful assembly.

"Nobody looking at the pictures coming out of Kisumu can be proud of a country where people openly carry bows, arrows and pangas to attack a congregation in church," he said.

Sifuna also referred to reports of violence in Nyahururu, saying he had spoken to local leaders and learnt that one member of their team had been shot.

"We are praying for his recovery because he did nothing to deserve such violence," he said.

He urged Kenyans, especially young people, not to lose hope, saying the country could still become one governed by the rule of law, democracy and respect for individual freedoms.

The two leaders said they would issue a comprehensive statement on the Kisumu incident during a media briefing scheduled for Monday in Nairobi.

The violence broke out during the church service, leaving at least two people injured and more than three motorcycles torched as police fired teargas to disperse rival groups that clashed outside the cathedral. The Star