Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa has come out to explain why Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua did not accompany President William Ruto to Nyeri on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
In a statement, the Senator detailed that the DP could not make it to the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA), Central West Archdiocese, Nyeri County, where his boss joined congregants for a service and planned church expansion push.
According to the Senator, Gachagua stepped in to represent Ruto at Our Lady of Sorrows Baricho Catholic Parish in Ndia, Kirinyaga Count for the Centenary celebrations.
However, the function failed to end on time making it difficult for DP Gachagua to join President Ruto in Nyeri.
His statement followed a post shared by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria showing an chair which appeared reserved for Gachagua.
In his post, Kuria indicated that was the last time the chair would remain empty.
“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’s statement read in part.
“The President was specifically scheduled to officially open the Baricho Parish rectory, as shown by the plaque, but Rigathi stood in for him. The Deputy President had also planned to join the President in Nyeri after representing him in Kirinyaga, but time constraints made it impossible.”
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. The President was specifically… https://t.co/pcuMRwvhRY pic.twitter.com/aO1j6tr8Om
— Sen. Karungo wa Thang'wa (@KarungoThangwa) September 15, 2024
Gachagua also explained that he did not want to leave the celebrations midway to join his boss in Nyeri.
“I was hurrying to attend another church in Nyeri then I saw there was a cake. I wondered whether an event without eating a cake is complete. So I decided to wait for the cake,” the Second in Command explained.
Ruto’s appeal
Despite Gachagua missing the event, Ruto urged the leaders present to stop the 2027 succession politics and instead focus on service delivery.
“Tunguze mambo ya 2027. Huku 2027 ni Mungu na wananchi ndio wataamua. Lakini sasa tukona miaka mitatu na haiwezi kuwa tu ya kupanga vile tutashinda tena 2027. (Let us reduce issues to do with 2027. In 2027, it is God and the voters who will decide. Right now and we cannot only focus on how to win the 2027 elections),” President Ruto stated.
“Panga kwanza vile ya kutumikia hawa wananchi. (Let us first strategise on how we will serve the people),” he insisted.
His sentiments come amid Mt Kenya kingpin debate with a section of the leaders rooting for Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki while the others cling on Gachagua.
