- Gachagua, he added, had also planned to join the President in Nyeri after representing him in Kirinyaga.
- This was the first time Gachagua has skipped Ruto’s function in his Mt Kenya backyard since they were elected in 2022.
Image: HANDOUT
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has downplayed reports suggesting that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua deliberately skipped President William Ruto’s event in Nyeri on Sunday.
According to Thang’wa, some politicians behind an impeachment plot are trying to create a wedge between the two leaders.
Says DP had planned to join Ruto in Nyeri but time constraints made it impossible.
He insisted that Ruto was to join Gachagua in Kirinyaga for the opening of a Baricho parish rectory after the Nyeri event.
While Ruto attended the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa in Nyeri, Gachagua on his part joined worshipers for the centennial celebrations in Kirinyaga.
A seat reserved for Gachagua remained unoccupied for the entire service, a clear indication of the widening fissure between the two.
In his address during the event, the DP affirmed that he had been invited to the president’s event.
“To clarify misinformation from political spin masters and the masterminds behind the plans to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua: Both the President and Deputy President were expected to attend services at the Kirinyaga and Nyeri churches,” Thang’wa said.
He even shared a photo of the church programme and a plaque at the church indicating Ruto was to grace the event and open it.
“The President was specifically scheduled to officially open the Baricho Parish rectory, as shown by the plaque, but Rigathi stood in for him,” he stated.
Gachagua, he added, had also planned to join the President in Nyeri after representing him in Kirinyaga, “but time constraints made it impossible.”
"The beautiful ceremony took longer than expected, and we enjoyed every moment of it as the church celebrated 100 years of faith and evangelisation," he said.
This was the first time Gachagua has skipped Ruto’s function in his Mt Kenya backyard since they were elected in 2022.
Earlier in the day, Gachagua was a no-show at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when Ruto jetted back from his two-day visit to Germany.
Ruto landed at JKIA at about 6 am on Sunday.
He was received by Kindiki, the man Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies say should be their regional kingpin.
Last week, 48 MPs from Central Kenya dumped Gachagua for Kindiki.
This is just days after 21 lawmakers from Mt Kenya East made a similar move.