Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire was among notable leaders absent during Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s event at her county on Sunday.
Also missing was Senator Alexander Mundigi and other lawmakers from the county in what appears to be a shared script.
Gachagua was received by Manyatta MP Mukunji Gitonga and some clergy upon landing at St Mark Teachers' Training College, Kigari for the church service.
Initial reports indicated that President William Ruto was to attend the event which also served as the 34th Anniversary of the ACK Embu Diocese only to cancel it.
“My diary was committed somewhere else. I have had to negotiate with people in other places because I didn’t want to miss this celebration,” Ruto said at AIC Milimani in Nairobi.
His decision to skip it is said to have informed the decision by the local leaders to also give it a wide berth.
Several leaders, once allies of Gachagua, have made an about-turn and pledged allegiance to Ruto.
Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi, Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South) and Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North) were all missing.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Ruku said he was “attending another church event within my constituency.”
“The National Assembly has impeached him. I respect the rule of law, it is important that we wait for the process to conclude,” he said.
There was no mention of their whereabouts during the meeting.
Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, Embu Woman Representative Pamela Njoki, MPs George Koimburu (Juja), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North) and ex-Laikipia woman representative Cate Waruguru were, however, in attendance.
Gachagua is staring at a job loss after the National Assembly voted to impeach him last Tuesday on charges of insubordination, corruption, abuse of office and gross violation of the Constitution.
Gachagua who was accompanied by his wife pastor Dorcas also took a private chopper to the event instead of the military place further fueling speculations.
Gachagua has typically utilised a military chopper for both official and personal engagements.
It was unclear as to why he opted to use the private chopper this time despite having access to government planes.
It sparks discussions about the use of KDF choppers by politicians. The then Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced in June that politicians would no longer be allowed to use military choppers.
Speaking during a TV interview, Duale noted that this was in line with a new policy of the KDF aimed at protecting its assets from misuse.
“The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopters will no longer be used by politicians. The choppers and or other assets will be reserved for specific military duties only including carrying troops and vital operations,” he said during a TV interview.
During a church function in Nakuru attended by Ruto, Gachagua delayed only to attribute it to transport challenges.
“I had challenges with my transport arrangements and I also encountered weather issues between Naivasha and Longonot for about an hour,” he explained.