Gachagua attends church service in Murang'a as Ruto allies worship in Eldoret

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua/FILE PHOTO

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attended a church service on Sunday at Almighty God Ministries Church in Mathioya, Murang’a County.

This Sunday worship comes just hours after meeting with former MPs, aspirants, and MCAs from Nairobi and Nakuru counties.

Gachagua’s speech will be closely watched, as he has recently intensified his criticism of the Kenya Kwanza government.

More than 400 kilometres away in Uasin Gishu, a section of President William Ruto’s allies also attended a church service.

Among them were some of Gachagua’s key critics, including Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.

Other leaders present included governors Jonathan Chelilim Bii (Uasin Gishu), Wisley Rotich (Elgeyo Marakwet), Hillary Barchok (Bomet), and Simon Kachapin (West Pokot).

Gachagua’s own Mathira Constituency MP, Erick Wamumbi, was also in attendance at the Uasin Gishu church service.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart," Sudi posted on his X account on Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening, Gachagua met with several opinion leaders from Nairobi, Kiambu, and Murang’a counties at his Wamunyoro residence in Mathira.

The leaders included former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi and ex-Kasarani MP Mercy Gakuya.

Others present were Juliah Chege (Kangema), Damaris Waiganjo (Kiambaa), Ernest Mwai (Gatundu), and Njinji Murigi (also from Gatundu).

Gachagua said the leaders shared insights on current affairs in their regions and discussed potential areas of collaboration.

"I reminded them that they must continue to speak to and listen to the ‘ground’ because, ultimately, it is the people who will decide what they want, and then the leaders will follow," Gachagua wrote on his X page.

In recent weeks, Kenya Kwanza allies have engaged in bitter exchanges with Gachagua, with some downplaying his influence.

Sudi, a vocal critic of Gachagua, refuted the former DP’s claim that his popularity in the Mount Kenya region was instrumental in helping President William Ruto ascend to power.

He argued that several other Mount Kenya politicians were more qualified for the deputy presidency.

He claimed that Gachagua was among the least preferred candidates when the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) held an internal vote before selecting Ruto’s running mate.