A cross-section of leaders and politicians from Thika in Kiambu County have told Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah to apologize for uttering words that demeaned President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Led by Bishop David Ngari Gakuyo of Calvary Chosen Center, the leaders took issue with the “unpalatable remarks” attributed to the MP when he spoke in Mathira, Nyeri County where he reportedly told the President “shame on you” for criticizing church leaders during last Wednesday’s Sagana meeting.

“Ichung’wah has shown blatant disrespect and scorn to the Head of State and the people of Kiambu where he comes from by making such remarks. He and other elected leaders of his ilk will face the wrath of voters who will definitely send them home,” Gakuyo said.

The preacher, who has declared interest in the Thika Town parliamentary seat, was speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at his church which was attended by other aspirants led by Juliet Kimemia who is eyeing the Kiambu governorship and three MCAs from the Thika sub-county.

Gakuyo defended President Kenyatta, saying that he was right to tell off clergymen who receive “dirty money” from politicians who are seeking to popularize themselves using ill-gotten cash.

“Even Jesus chased away businessmen who were conducting illicit trade in the church. As men of cloth we must stand for what is morally right and desist from temptations to receive money from questionable sources,” he stated.

His remarks were echoed by Kimemia who claimed that there is a clique of preachers and politicians who are paid to tarnish the name of the President.

“They are paid between Sh 20,000 and Sh 200,000 if they send recorded clips indicating how they had insulted the Head of State,” Kimemia said.

The group which included MCAs Andrew Kimani (Thika Township), Raphael Chege (Kamenu) and Joachim Njama (Ngoliba) vowed to popularize the rebranded Jubilee Party on whose ticket they would seek to be elected.