Gachagua casts lone shadow as Embu leaders skip church event

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lands in Embu ahead of the 34th ACK Diocesan Anniversary at Kigari Teachers Training College. [Murithi Mugo]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua cast the image of a man walking on a tight rope as elected leaders shunned the Sunday service he attended in Embu.

Only two MPs of the five constituencies of Embu attended the service, which was the 34th Anniversary Celebrations for the ACK Diocese of Embu at St Mark Teachers' Training College Kigari in Manyatta Constituency. 

Host MP Gitonga Mukunji (Manyatta) and Embu Woman Rep Pamela Njoki Njeru attended the anniversary celebrations with MPs Muchangi Karemba (Runyenjes), Eng Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South) and Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North) giving it a wild berth.

Conspicuously missing were area Senator Alexander Mundigi and Governor Cecily Mbarire, the chairperson of ruling party UDA. The two have attended Church services by the second in command in the past.

President William Ruto, according to the sources, was supposed to visit the church in July, but called off the event after the Gen Z protestors announced that they were occupying churches. His visit was postponed to coincide with yesterday’s anniversary celebrations.

Although sources at State House maintain the meeting was called off because it clashed with the president’s schedule, other sources indicate that his last-minute cancellation was to allow the heat generated by Gachagua’s impeachment to cool off.

Since the impeachment debate started, the president has kept a low profile and has not been making tours in the country, as his norm.

Other leaders who accompanied the deputy president were Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado North), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), George Koimburi (Juja), Kamau Murango(Kirinyaga Senator), Cate Waruguru (former MP Laikipia County) and a number of MCAs from Embu and Kirinyaga.

The deputy president called for calm in the country irrespective of the verdict by the Senate this week. He said Kenyans have one country that they should protect by staying peaceful.

"Never be distracted by whatever is happening in our nation, we are Christians who believe in Almighty God who is on the Throne and capable of doing his will beyond human expectation. Pray for us and the Nation at large, we were elected by many people and it cannot be that a few people can send us home". Gachagua said amid jubilation from the congregation.

The DP applauded Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji and Woman Representative Njoki Njeru for voting against his impeachment. 

"You elected us with the president for five years and the will of the people must be respected. We have faith in our Judiciary which is very professional and I have no doubt in mind that our eminent Judges will protect and uphold the constitution, the rule of law and make sure that every time the will of the people is sovereign," Gachagua said.

The service was presided over by Bishop David Murithi of ACK Diocese of Embu.

Bishop Murithi allowed only Gachagua to speak, ignoring other politicians accompanying him.