Kiambu County Senator Karungo Thang'wa has praised residents of Kirinyaga County for their peaceful demonstration against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a post through his X platform on Monday, October 13, the close Gachagua ally commended the protestors for their unique and environmentally conscious approach to expressing their grievances.
The UDA senator, however, insinuated that the protestors had been paid to march against the former deputy president.
"That's why I love my people in Mt. Kenya very much. You pay them to execute a certain duty, they take your money, execute the duty peacefully and harmlessly,” Thang'wa stated.
“Instead of burning tyres to destroy their roads, they used 'mahuti ma mucere', burn them quickly, and go to do something else. I love the people of Kirinyaga very much.”
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His remarks came after a section of Kirinyaga residents staged demonstrations in Kutus town on Monday, October 13, in defense of Governor Anne Waiguru following recent comments made by Gachagua.
The protestors condemned the former Deputy President's remarks as disrespectful, demeaning, and indicative of contempt for women in leadership positions.
The residents expressed anger over Gachagua's assertion that President William Ruto was using Waiguru politically, arguing that the former DP had no right to question the governor's relationship with the Head of State.
Beth Wanjiru, one of the demonstrators, described the statement as offensive and an insult to women leaders nationwide.
"This was not just an attack on Governor Waiguru; it was an attack on every hardworking woman in leadership. Governor Waiguru has earned her place through performance, integrity, and vision, with her leadership track speaking for itself, and as such, she needs not take directives from anyone," she said.
The protestors celebrated Waiguru as a pioneer who has transformed women's leadership in Kenya, highlighting her achievement as the only woman to be elected governor twice and her two-term service as Chairperson of the Council of Governors.
The demonstrations followed a controversial statement by Gachagua during a Sunday service at the Ambassador of Christ Church in Mwea, where he pledged to expose what he called 'traitors' within the Mount Kenya region.
He alleged that certain leaders were working to weaken the community's unity by aligning too closely with President William Ruto and establishing their own political parties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua singled out Waiguru, accusing her of planning to form a new political party in preparation for the upcoming polls.
"Let us agree on what I will do. Wherever I go in Mount Kenya, I will be calling out the traitors by name so that people know them. Whether you are a man or a woman. We will tell our people who the traitors are so that the President doesn't finish this community," he said.
