Gachagua allowed to speak in front of Ruto after tension at requiem mass
By Aloys Michael, April 8, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, allowed to address mourners in the presence of President William Ruto following a brief moment of tension at a requiem mass held in Nyandarua County.
The mass, honouring the late David Kiaraho, had drawn top political leaders, clergy, and residents, but early proceedings were marked by unease over whether Gachagua would be given a chance to speak.
“Mr President nimeona magazeti ati kutakuwa na confrontation hapa. But there will be no confrontation. This is a solemn occasion. Na tunataka iwe na heshima kwa sababu kila mtu amekuja hapa ako na nia njema.Mimi na watu yangu tumekuja na amani. Wacha tumpatie Kiaraho heshima yake,” Gachagua said on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
During the address, Gachagua resorted to using a welcoming tone instead of the confrontational one in addressing various issues bedevilling the vast Mt Kenya region.
This comes at a time when Kindiki has intensified his attacks on Gachagua, signalling a high-stakes political confrontation in the upcoming Ol Kalou by-election in Nyandarua County.
While hosting residents from Maara, Kindiki jolted Gachagua, dismissing him as small-minded and questioning his track record in public service dating back to his time as a district officer.
“I have told him to leave me alone; I haven’t even started with him, and he does not know me. I will embarrass him. Just wait, there is more ahead,” Kindiki quipped.
Gachagua-Kindiki tiff
The DP further accused the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) chief of engaging in primitive politics and employing what he described as bullying tactics, urging him to stop shifting blame for his political setbacks.
“Just wait, there is a by-election coming up in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua, where I will face him again with that chest-thumping pride he has; I will deal with him thoroughly so that respect can be earned,” Kindiki said.
Earlier, drama unfolded in Nyandarua on when the area senator John Methu took to the podium to speak.
Methu’s microphone had to be briefly switched off after he started lecturing President William Ruto on the face.
The lawmaker started by claiming that the late Kiaraho had warned leaders from the region against joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over claims that it was a bad party, before he quickly turned on the president, saying that he does not fear him.
“Wakati tuliingia chama cha UDA, mheshimiwa Kiaraho alituambia hiyo chama ni mbaya hataingia, akaingia Jubilee, na watu wa hapa Ol Kalou mkamchagua. Kwanza kabisa mheshimiwa William Ruto, bado mimi ndio John Methu. Sijabadilika, Bado mimi ni Methu wa zamani,” Methu said.
“Na Ile maneno mheshimiwa Kwenya unaogopa ati nisiseme hapa, sitasema lakini ukinisukuma sana nitasema. Mimi nataka nikuambie nikiwa hapa kwasababu sijakuona kwa siku mingi kama Methu nakuheshimu sana mheshimwa rais. Nakuheshimu kama mzazi lakini nataka nikwambie sikuogopi.“
Development projects
When Methu was finally granted back the microphone, he continued with his lecture against Ruto, putting him on the spot over some of the stalled development projects in the area.
He listed some of the roads that the Head of State had promised to construct, which have since stalled.
“But what I was telling you Mr President, Mimi nataka nikueleze jambo moja pekee yake kama senator wa hapa. Sasa nikisema mheshimiwa rais tulikuwa na wewe pale kwa Mama Mukami Kimathi ukatwambia barabara ya kutoka Kinamba kwenda Karangatha, kwa haraka itaekwa lami, na haijaekwa, nimepiga siasa gani? Nikikueleza tulikuwa na wewe Shamata ukatwambia barabara ya kutoka hapa Kariamu kwenda Kaka, kwenda Shamata itaekwa lami na haijaekwa, nimefanya siasa gani? Nikisema mheshimiwa rais, ulikuwa hapa ukatwambia hii stadium ya Ol Kalou, ndani ya miezi kumi itakuwa imemalizika, haijamalizika, nimefanya siasa gani?” Methu posed.
Methu was eventually stopped from addressing the mourners after he extended a dare to National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah over his attacks on former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.