People's Party of Kenya leader Ndindi Nyoro with Rev Sammy Wamucii at St Paul's Engineer ACK church on September 20, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERAPeople’s Party of Kenya leader Ndindi Nyoro and Kinangop MP Kwenya Thuku clashed at a church service in Engineer, Nyandarua County on Sunday.
The two leaders traded words over an alleged message sent ahead of Nyoro’s visit.
The confrontation came after Rev Sammy Wamucii cautioned the leaders against disrespecting each other and urged them to keep political differences out of the church.
Nyoro, who had been invited to the service, told the congregation that Kwenya had sent him text messages on Saturday questioning his decision to visit Kinangop without informing him.
He said the exchange culminated in Kwenya allegedly telling him, “Tutapatana kesho,” which he interpreted as a warning ahead of his visit.
Nyoro said he had considered postponing the visit after receiving the messages and had informed the Reverend of his decision before the clergyman convinced him to proceed.
“I respect Kwenya for coming to the church as the area MP, but if I lie, mheshimiwa, you will come and clarify. I have been to many places, including Isiolo, and even when leaders come to Murang’a town, I don’t mind because I don’t own the town,” Nyoro said.
The exchange caused excitement among some congregants, with Nyoro repeatedly calling on Kwenya, who was at the front pew speaking to some members and showing them his mobile phone, to come forward and address the matter.
Nyoro said political differences should not interfere with leaders’ freedom to visit different parts of the country, particularly at a time when political temperatures were rising.
“You told me that I was being disrespectful for not informing you that I was coming to your area,” he said.
“With humility, let’s not bring politics to the church. I am going to Engineer after this. If you love peace, you will allow us to conduct our rally in peace,” Nyoro added.
The confrontation came despite earlier efforts by Rev Wamucii to set a conciliatory tone, with the clergyman reminding the leaders that the church welcomed people across the political divide.
Wamucii said he had met Nyoro in 2021 and invited him to the church after learning that the politician wanted to visit the county.
“When you called our Bishop, he told you to come as a faithful, not politician, because you are a member of the ACK church,” he told Nyoro.
Kwenya, however, said he had not been invited to the service but had attended because it was a house of worship and to welcome Nyoro to his constituency.
“I wanted to welcome my friend Nyoro so he knows he has a brother in Kinangop,” Kwenya said.
The MP said he had attended the service respectfully and had no intention of engaging in politics, maintaining that leaders should work together despite their political differences.
He said his parents had taught him not to play politics in church and urged leaders to respect one another.
“We came with respect today so that if there’s any work to be done in the church, we can do it together. It’s wrong to disrespect each other, especially in churches. Leadership is given by God,” he said.
Kwenya also highlighted several development projects he said he had lobbied for in Kinangop, including the elevation of Engineer town to municipality status, which he said had helped revive economic activity in the town.
He said his focus remained on development and that he would engage in politics when the time came.
Nyoro later posted a video on his social media platforms showing youths involved in a confrontation, accompanying it with a caption claiming that Kwenya had fled from his constituents.
Kwenya did not, however, publicly address that claim during his remarks at the church, instead maintaining that his focus was on serving residents and pursuing development projects in Kinangop.
