MPs avoid churches after Gen Zs vow to eject them from podiums

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses worshippers during a church service at Deliverance Church International, Kaplong, Bomet County on June 30, 2024. [DPCS, Standard]

Most Members of Parliament shunned worship places following threats by the Gen Zs to deny them a chance to address congregations from the podiums.

Instead, the leaders took a low profile, save for President William Ruto who attended a service at the Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa church in Lolgorian, Narok County.

The President, who was at his Kilgoris farm, surprised the congregation at the church when he walked in without a red carpet being laid down for him or being accompanied by the area MP Julius Sunkuli.

But his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua was in the company of Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok and Emurrua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno at Kaplong Deliverance church in Bomet County.  All local MPs were conspicuously missing.

A spot check countrywide showed unlike in the past when delegations of elected leaders could jam churches for prayers and fundraisers, they avoided places of worship yesterday.

In Eldoret, churches including Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Mathews ACK Cathedral and African Inland Church Fellowship had no political leaders in attendance.

A fundraiser for a Sunday School project that had been scheduled for Sunday at St Mathews ACK Cathedral was called off at the eleventh hour with the church provost, Benard Kosgei, saying he received numerous calls on June 28 and 29 from youth concerning the event.

“The comments raised by the youth were genuine and I take them positively. It is a wake up call to the church and the society to take concerns of the youth seriously,” said Kosgei.

He added: “I challenge the government to fulfil promises given to the nation on the fight against corruption, address the needs of the youth, constituting of IEBC and the high cost of living. There is a need for dialogue for all.”

In Elgeyo Markwet, two legislators who attended the handing over of a fluorspar mining site in Keiyo South on Saturday faced a cold reception from locals.

The county women representative, Caroline Ng’elechei, who had two weeks ago vowed to vote ‘Yes’ to all clauses of the withdrawn Finance Bill 2024, asked for forgiveness from locals.

She pleaded with the crowd at Kimwarer not to punish her for voting in support of the withdrawn Bill.

“The biggest mistake I made was to tell you that I would vote ‘Yes’ to all the clauses of the Finance Bill. I can now tell you that I did not vote for all the clauses as earlier said,” Ng’elechei told residents in the local Keiyo dialect.

Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo confessed to the seemingly unhappy residents that he made a mistake in voting for the Bill without listening to his constituents.

“I have learnt my lessons, I will not repeat it going forward, I will listen to my constituents before voting for bills,” Kimaiyo, who received a cold reception from locals comprising Gen Zs said.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich lauded the youth for not subjecting Iten County offices to violent episodes.

In Kilifi, Ganze MP Kazungu Tungule apologised to angry residents for voting in favour of the controversial Bill.

Tungule’s rural home was on Saturday afternoon attacked by an unknown number of angry youths who said the MP went against them despite knowing the challenges they are facing in the area.

‘‘If I knew voting Yes would land me in trouble, I would have voted No,’’ he stated.

Kilifi North MP Owen Baya also voted Yes for Bill that has since been withdrawn by President William Ruto.

However, Baya rarely makes public appearances like he would before.

In Mt Kenya region, residents have been demanding explanations from MPs who supported the Bill despite calls on them to reject it.

The MPs have resorted to social media platforms to explain themselves and justify their stance amidst growing backlash.

Nyeri Town constituency MP, Duncan Mathenge, and Tetu MP, Geoffrey Wandeto, are among the vocal MPs attempting to clarify their support for the Bill.

The MPs strongly say they were not bribed by the President to support the bill.

Nyeri MP Duncan Maina, on his Facebook page, claimed that he did not attend any meetings where money was offered to vote for or against the Bill.

Angry residents did not take his lengthy post kindly; instead, they criticised him, labelling him a traitor and demanding that he begin planning for his exit from his office.

Nyeri Catholic Archbishop Antony Muheria condemned police brutality on the protestors’ during the countrywide demos. “We condemn the violent and brutal way that police have handed our young people, shooting live bullets at them and violent beatings was not right,” Muheria said.

He said the government should find a better way to handle the youth urging the police officers who are supposed to protect the public to stop using excess force and instead seek alternative ways to disperse the protestors.

“Many lives were lost while other people were injured when peaceful protests became confrontational,” he said.

Speaking during his Sunday sermon, Muheria said the issues raised by the youth were that their parents and institutions have failed to address hence forcing them to protest.

In Western, MPs allied to President Ruto have been playing hide-and-seek games with their constituents. They include Malulu Injendi (Malava), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye East), Mary Emase (Teso South) and Ombkoko Milemba (Emuhaya).

Police stopped a mob that had stormed Ms Emase’s home and Teso South National Government-Constituency Development Fund offices last week.

Tension was high in Kimilili on Saturday where area MP Didmus Barasa was expected to address a rally at Katiba grounds.

Angry youths attempted to disrupt the meeting which was supposed to start at around 5pm leading to chaos that saw scores injured in the ensuing melee.

UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala while speaking in Navakholo constituency, Kakamega County, yesterday urged youths to desist from storming homes and attacking their MPs but allow the President to meet them and address the issues they are raising.

[Report by Titus Too, Benard Lusigi, Mary Imenza, Purity Mwangi, Marion Kithi, Stephen Rutto, Eric Abuga, Juliet Omelo and James Omoro]