Rigathi Gachagua chastised President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza allies on Sunday for how they responded to religious clerics’ criticism.
In a stinging speech, the former Deputy President warned UDA-affiliated leaders against targeting church leaders, citing a pattern he witnessed during the late former President Daniel Arap Moi’s reign.
Gachagua was speaking at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa’s (PCEA) Kerarapon Church in Kajiado North Constituency, Kajiado County, to commemorate 100 years of missionary work.
“That culture of being arrogant and abusive to religious leaders was there in the 1990s during Moi’s regime,” Gachagua said adding, “I can see the same pattern and we all know what the consequences were.”
He went on, “Let’s be humble. Let’s allow our spiritual leaders to chastise us in love. To correct us when we are wrong. Let us accord respect to our church leaders.”
Gachagua also appeared to take a sly shot at his previous employer, President William Ruto, by issuing a warning to leaders he said wielded excessive power.
“You think you have too much power because you are in government. Be very careful so history does not repeat itself,” the former Deputy President added.
On Thursday, a Catholic bishops’ group made news by criticizing President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Led by Archbishop Maurice Muhatia, Chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the bishops accused the government of failing to meet electoral promises while utterly ignoring ordinary Kenyans’ concerns.
The church leaders had few to no positive things to say about Ruto’s rule, stating that Kenyans had lost trust in the government.
Following the bishops’ remarks, a number of Kenya Kwanza figures, including senators and politicians, published rebuttals, with some urging church leaders to focus on the church.
On Saturday, Ruto struck a reconciliatory tone, reaffirming his commitment to address concerns raised by the clergy.
“We heard the governor speak on behalf of the region. After Christmas and in the new year, we will set a date to discuss critical issues including water, roads, and the competency-based curriculum,” Ruto said.
The President was speaking during the Episcopal ordination and installation of Rt. Rev. Peter Kimani as Bishop of Embu Diocese an event which was also attended by Gachagua.
