Mathira residents hold prayers for Gachagua over impeachment call

Residents of Mathira, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's backyard, marshalled their different denominations to seek divine intervention for a son who served them five years as MP, and whose tenure as Kenya’s Deputy President under the 2010 Constitution now hangs in the balance.

Residents held a special service at Karatina Market calling on legislators to drop what they termed as sideshow moments before the tabling of Gachagua’s impeachment motion.

Elders drawn from the Mt. Kenya Council of Elders offered to mediate between President William Ruto and Gachagua to help bridge their differences.

"Wabunge wetu, hio ni sauti yenu, na ikifika siku yetu mtakaa tu huko State House. Mpige kura, mtoe Rigathi Gachagua, na mashinani msirudi,” said Wairimu Wanjiku.

Muriithi Ndagita added: "We want them to focus the energy that they are using so much to bring the impeachment, to look for signatures to go to parliament, to use that energy to address issues that Kenyans really need."

"Naskia uchungu sana nikikumbuka mimi nilikuwa nawapea aki hata William kama atakumbuka. Nilikuwa nawapea melon. Mimi nauza melon. Nachukua melon kubwa nawapelekea pale. Nawaambia waende wakikula wakiendelea na kazi yao,” another resident Wanjiru Gicheru said.

The residents, many of whom are traders at the market, expressed their disappointment at what they termed as the betrayal of their son.

"Tunataka kukemea mashetani ambayo imeingililia serikali yetu ya UDA. Tulikuwa tunaombea rais wetu aweze kulegeza roho yake,” stated Kariithi Wambui.

"Uliteswa sana wakati ulikuwa naibu wa rais. Hakuna ata siku moja wabunge walikaa chini wakasema wakutoe. Sasa unasimama unaangalia yale yote Gachagua anapitia na husemi kitu,” Wairimu Wanjiku added.

The service went on, even as one end of Karatina came under heavy GSU and anti-riot police deployment, following rumours of planned demos over Gachagua’s ouster motion.

Elsewhere, elders drawn from the Mt. Kenya Council of Elders offered to mediate between the President and his Deputy, to allow them to work together.

"To the President and Deputy, let's unite. Let nothing divide you no matter the matter. Let Kenya be one, and we look forward to seeing the two of you delivering what you promised, especially to GEMA and the whole country,” Robert Mukwaa noted.