[PHOTOS] Security beefed up during Ruto tour as Waiguru, Ngirici supporters engage in confrontation

Security was on Sunday beefed up at the Kianyaga ACK, Kirinyaga county, during Deputy President William Ruto's visit.

Ruto received a rousing welcome from both supporters of Governor Anne Waiguru and county Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici.

Both leaders attended the service.

Tension was palpable as hundreds of Waiguru's and Ngirici's supporters  confronted each other along the Kianyaga-Kutus road which they blocked.

The supporters carried placards of their candidate of choice as they chanted slogans and names of the two leaders.

Earlier, a group of youths set ablaze reflectors and posters with Waiguru's image.

Trouble started after a group of Waiguru's supporters started distributing reflectors early in the morning, an action that provoked Ngirici's supporters who snatched the apparatus and set them ablaze.

They have vowed to stop her from addressing the crowd during the meet the people tour.

The Star has since established that supporters of both camps have been placed at strategic positions where the DP will be visiting.

Earlier, Waiguru had accused the Kianyaga DCIO of summoning her team and threatening to arrest them.

" Please stop intimidating my team using security forces," she tweeted on Sunday.

The bruising political jostling between Waiguru and Ngirici that has put Kirinyaga into focus, comes after the entry of Waiguru into the UDA camp.

Both leaders who have been political rivals are eyeing the governor’s seat on the UDA ticket in 2022.

After the church service at ACK Kianyaga, Ruto is scheduled for a meet the people tour at Kianyaga, Kutus and Kerugoya towns.

Over the past one week both camps have been mobilising their grassroots supporters and impressing upon them to show up in large numbers during the DP’s visit.

Through their teams, both have also published posters with both their images and that of Ruto which have been  doing rounds in various social media platforms.

Waiguru on Thursday facilitated over 300 boda boda riders who made rounds in a considerable number of areas across the county brandishing posters to welcome the DP as they shouted Waiguru’s  2022 elections slogans.

Later in the day, the governor hosted them at her official residence in Kagio where she impressed upon  them to show up on Sunday in large numbers.

She said she can’t wait for Sunday to host the DP whom she said she believes will form the next government.

While hitting out at Ngirici, the county chief noted that no individual had the monopoly of a national  political party irrespective of playing a key role in building it.

“The party does not belong to an individual, it belongs to wananchi. Much as you helped in building it from scratch, that is not to mean you lock people out. We need to grow the party by bringing everyone on board including all our competitors.”

Waiguru  said her decision to join UDA was informed by the electorate.

On the other hand, Ngirici who has been missing in action in recent Ruto rallies and meetings, reiterated that she shall be the host during DP’s ACK Kianyaga’s  visit.

Speaking on Friday in Mwea, Ngirici said she in the company of Gichugu MP Gichimu Githinji extended the church invitation to Ruto in May after he played a massive role in its development.

“His pending visit to the church  dates back in May when Gichimu and I  were sent over to him  by the church vicar requesting him to be a guest of honour during its consecration ceremony for his enormous contribution in its development.”

"Therefore I personally shall be there as a host, one of the guests of honour and as a mother’s union member which is a faction of the ACK church.” 

Ngirici  has equally reiterated that she is going for nothing less  than the governor’s seat in the 2022 election as she has already made up her mind.   

On her political future in UDA, the county MP said she still is in the party as she continues to pick some vital lessons for the mistakes she has  made over the course of her  political career.