Head of Presidential Special Projects & Creative Economy Dennis Itumbi has defended the visit by members of the Akorino Church to State House on Sunday, April 12, 2026, dismissing claims that the meeting was hurriedly arranged.

Taking to his official X account on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in what appeared to be a direct response to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Itumbi clarified that the visit had been in the works for months, following a request by the Akorino faithful to worship alongside President William Ruto.

“Jofri, The Tribal Warlord, Wakorino decided they are coming to State House in February this year. We have been planning for months how they come after they said they wanted to worship with the President at State House,” Itumbi stated.

Itumbi appeared to mock Gachagua, who had claimed that the visit was a last-minute arrangement, questioning claims that the group had only sought permission on the day of the event.

“Ati they asked for permission today?” he posed sarcastically, accompanied by laughing emojis.

Gachagua’s claims

His remarks come hours after Gachagua launched a blistering attack on members of the Akorino sect following their visit to State House, accusing them of betraying their community.

In a statement shared via his official Facebook account on Sunday, April 12, 2026, which was accompanied by a video address in the Kikuyu dialect, Gachagua claimed that the religious group had been invited to State House to “sanitise” President William Ruto amid claims of profiling and persecution of sections of the Mt Kenya community.

Gachagua slams Ruto

Gachagua accused the President of escalating tensions by reportedly targeting cultural institutions and elders.

“William Ruto, you have now crossed the red line. Destroying our cultural shrine and sending police to beat and humiliate our elders is declaring war on our community,” he said.

“You have this morning summoned members of the Akorino sect to State House to pray for you and sanitize you for profiling and persecuting our community.”

The former deputy president claimed that the developments signal a deepening rift between the government and parts of the Mt Kenya region.

Turning his focus to the Akorino sect, Gachagua criticised those who attended the State House meeting, urging them not to claim to represent the wider community.

“For the Akorino going to State House, please speak for your stomachs, not us. You join the long list of traitors who have turned against their own to fill their stomachs,” he said, in remarks that have since sparked widespread debate.

He went further to label them “traitors”, accusing them of prioritising personal gain over community interests.