This archive report was first published on 31 August 2019.
Concerns have been raised about escalating cases of political violence against supporters of William Ruto in Nyeri by Kieleweke political group led by MP Ngunjiri Wambugu.
According to local grassroots politicians, spiritual leaders, and civil rights groups, the situation has the potential to spread across the country and culminate in bloody civil strife if left unchecked.
The groups have called on the international community and the International Criminal Court to be vigilant in addressing the issue.
Among those who have spoken out against Ngunjiri's actions are Nyeri county association of all sects led by James Gatonye, Jane Thaitaka, Salim Gitimu, Peter Kahumbu, and Gibson Gatonye of PCEA and ACK respectively.
Grassroots political leaders, including Johnson Kagamba of Kanu, Mwangi Kimonde of Jubilee party, and Ann Karaya of Narc-K, have also expressed their concerns.
Civil rights groups leaders, including Kogi Kioni and Josiah Gichinga, have also weighed in on the issue.
“Now conventional wisdom is dictating that the government is providing logistic and material support to Kieleweke political group and its warlord Ngunjiri Wambugu who clearly appears to be in charge of political command post that is executing political harassment of the supporters of deputy president who include elected leaders,” said Gichinga of Nyeri civil rights defenders.
Recently, a function hosted by Nyeri county MP Rahab Mukami to issue cheques to women and youth groups was disrupted by marauding youth allied to Ngunjiri.
Pro-Ruto leaders, including women representatives Jane Chebabai of Elgeyo Marakwet, Gladys Shollei of Uasin Gishu, and MPs Mary Waithera of Maragua and Alice Wahome of Kandara, attended the function.
MP Alice Wahome publicly rebuked Ngunjiri, saying, “You have let down your electorate by engaging yourself nearly on full-time basis on dirty and violent political activities against Ruto’s allies at the expense of your parliamentary duties.”
She also asked Nyeri Town constituents to write off Ngunjiri now and vote him out come the forthcoming elections.
Embarrassed Ngunjiri was not given even a single minute to address the function.
Immediately after Kandara MP concluded her electrifying remarks, a group of young men and women who appeared visibly drunk stormed into the function chanting anti-Ruto’s slogans.
Policemen managed to contain chaos before Nyeri county MP Rahab Mukami called off the meeting which actually ended in disarray.
On August 31, 2019, the function was disrupted by pro-Kielewekes led by Wambugu at a water project launch function near Gatitu market in Nyeri subcounty.
During the melee, a well-built bouncer allied to area MCA Muturi threw a heavy punch on the stomach of visibly shaken area MP at the dais in front of chief guest Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and women rep Rahab Mukami.
The function ended in disarray after angry Ngunjiri slapped area MCA Muturi.
