President William Ruto’s Sh1 million to a church in Karatina town received a cold reception, with Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, who delivered it, being asked to respect former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as his mentor.
This even as Mt Kenya politics pitting allies of Mr Gachagua and President Ruto played out during the church service.
President Ruto was expected to grace the Silver Jubilee celebration of Victors Chapel headed by Bishop William Githinji but failed to show up amid speculation that a hostile reception was awaiting him. Mathira is the home turf of his former deputy, now a fierce critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
However, in his speech, Mr Wamumbi' sought to explain the president's no-show, saying he had been caught up in an international engagement in Tanzania.
"I have seen on social media that the president skipped this ceremony because it is someone’s backyard. Let me tell you, the president is free to visit any part of the country. President Ruto was willing to be here but he had an urgent matter regarding the crisis in DRC but he has sent me with his gift of Sh1 million," the MP said.
However, when he handed over the bundle of notes to Bishop Githinji, the congratulation wasn't appreciated as expected and only a handful of members of the congregation applauded amid some murmurs of disapproval.
Following the acrimonious fallout between President Ruto and his former deputy, Dr Ruto’s allies have had a hard time visiting their constituencies amid safety concerns as supporters of Mr Gachagua have turned against them with rage.
During the Gen Z protests in June last year, irate demonstrators, mainly youth, stormed Mr Wamumbi's newly constructed palatial home in Kamunyaka village after he backed the controversial Finance Bill, 2024.
Mr Gachagua has a huge following in Mathira where he was the Member of Parliament from 2017 to 2022, after which he rose to be the second-in-command. Mr Wamumbi does not see eye to eye with Mr Gachagua and the two have been throwing tantrums at each other.
Mr Gachagua accuses Mr Wamumbi of being used by the former DP’s political enemies in the Kenya Kwanza government to undermine him politically.
In his speech at the church service, Mr Wamumbi downplayed Mr Gachagua’s much-awaited Sunday announcement, saying Mt Kenya region will not follow him "blindly"
"I understand there are some people who are purporting to give some directions to the people of Mt Kenya. Let me ask you, if he failed to protect his seat as deputy president when he was hounded out of office, who can he give direction to? This is political conmanship " he said.
However, Mr Gachagua's allies, led by Kirimukuyu ward MCA Anthony Ndagita, took on Mr Wamumbi, telling him to respect Mr Gachagua who is his political mentor.
“When we ask for accountability in government, when we say things are not working properly it should not be construed that we are attacking the government. Gachagua is a champion of accountability and I ask our MP to respect the second deputy president who is his political mentor,” Mr Ndagita said.
