- Police said two people lost their lives when clashes erupted between two opposing groups
- Mutyambai has instructed the director of Internal Affairs Unit and two senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers to probe the incident.
Deputy President William Ruto has accused top government officials of instigating chaos that left two people dead during his church function in Kenol, Murang'a county, on Sunday.
But his claims were swiftly dismissed as empty propaganda by Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege.
Ruto, who was accompanied by close to 40 legislators, maintained that nothing will stop him from attending church harambees and supporting small businesses.
“The people who disrupted this church event are top government officials employed by President Uhuru Kenyayta and me. They work under us. Going forward, this will not happen again,” he told the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa faithful.
Chege condemned the MPs for incriminating her, saying they had formed a habit of sponsoring violence in their functions and shifting the blame to other leaders.
"Now that they have donated whatever money they have, what will traders who closed their businesses the entire day eat?" she asked.
Chege said she had spent the day at AIPCA Gaitegi Church and was surprised to hear that she had been incriminated in the violence at the Ruto function.
Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai said a conflict ensued between two opposing groups, resulting in the death of the two people.
Mutyambai said he had instructed the director of Internal Affairs Unit and two senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers to probe the matter for the perpetrators to be brought to book.
“We urge politicians to desist from engaging in inciteful utterances and acts. Stern action will be taken against any person engaging in planning and executing unlawful acts,” he said in a statement.
Kenol town was a no-go zone on Sunday morning as rival youths clashed and barricaded roads.
Ruto asked the police not to be misused by their seniors to advance political interests. He said it was unfortunate that the officers were increasingly being deployed to carry out backward political assignments.
Chege said in the President's absence, Ruto had the power to give any orders, including facilitating the violence.
She urged the clergy to stop allowing politicians to use the pulpit to spread lies and insult others, noting that she has attended fundraisings in the same church before.
Ruto allies claimed a meeting was held on Saturday night at a local hotel to discuss how to disrupt the fundraiser.
They claimed Chege was among those at the meeting and that she handed over cash to be given to youths to cause violence.
They further alleged the money was from the Ministry of Interior.
Chege said the youths who said she had promised them Sh1,000 to fight were coached and told the Tangatanga leadership to stop making Murang'a a political hotspot.
Ruto was accompanied by MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Kimani Ichung'wa (Kikuyu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Senator Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Nixon Korir (Lang’ata), George Theuri (Embakasi West), Purity Ngirici (Woman Rep, Kirinyaga), Faith Gitau (Woman Rep, Nyandarua), Cecily Mbarire (nominated), Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi Woman Rep), Daniel Tuitoek (Mogotio), Rahab Mukami (Woman Rep Nyeri) and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Others were Charles Gimose (Hamisi), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Joseph Tanui (Kuresoi South), Liza Chelule (Nakuru), Mathias Robi (Kuria West), Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr), Rehema Hassan (Tana River), William Cheptumo (Baringo North), George Gitonga (Tharaka North), Dominic Koskei (Sotik), John Muchiri (Manyatta), Jematia Florence (Eala), Mary Seneta (nominated), Millicent Omanga (nominated), Naomi Waqo (nominated), Nasri Ibrahim (nominated), former Senators Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) and Johnson Muthama (Machakos).
Ruto reiterated that those who planned the chaos had wronged the President and that they will not succeed in their mission.
He said nothing will stop him from visiting Jubilee headquarters at Pangani, even as the National Management Committee seeks to remove him as deputy party leader.
“Those who are telling us we cannot go to Pangani headquarters should know they cannot stop us. One of them is a drunkard. Did he just escape from a rehab? I am the one who is supposed to be in that office,” he stated.
Wahome regretted that a government could fight its own people. “We are sliding back to the dark days faster than I thought.”
Gachagua said the chaos was planned from Friday by leaders opposed to Ruto. “Young people were actually sent to disrupt this meeting. Why would one send youths to disrupt a church function?” he asked.
Murkomen claimed the youths were given Sh500 to make sure the event did not take place.
“We are being set up for confrontation with the President. We are not competing with him because he is retiring. We are not in a contest with Uhuru,” he added.
Nyoro and Murkomen urged Kenyans not to allow their children to be used by politicians to cause violence.
"The people paying youths Sh500 to cause violence are the same ones who have been opposing the empowerment of the youth,” Murkomen said.
Ichung'wa claimed that even dictators such as Uganda's Idi Amin did not use violence in church.
Gachagua asked President Kenyatta not to allow civil servants to tarnish his reputation and legacy.
“We want to tell President Kenyatta to reconsider the value of some civil servants in his government,” he said.
- mwaniki fm