This archive report was first published on 10 November 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to Murang'a County was abruptly cancelled on Sunday, leaving residents and leaders in a state of confusion and frustration.
The visit, which was expected to take place at the ACK church in Kenol, was called off for unknown reasons, with security vehicles and personnel leaving the venue by 10:30 am.
Residents had arrived as early as 7 am, settling in tents awaiting the President's arrival, while government officials, including Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga and top police bosses, had arrived to ensure security was tight.
MPs Mary Waithira, Peter Kimari, Muturi Kigano, Job Weru, and Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura had also arrived to welcome the President, but were left in the dark about the cancellation.
At around 11 am, Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang'i, James Macharia, and Joe Mucheru arrived to represent the President at the function, accompanied by Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria.
Leaders who spoke to the Nation expressed their disappointment and frustration at the turn of events, with some attributing the cancellation to a low turn-out and political intrigues.
"It is very unfortunate that the President has continually avoided his region which voted for him wholeheartedly without a good reason," one politician said.
Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata told the Nation that he was not aware of the cancellation, saying, "I don't have information that he is not coming. By this morning the President had still confirmed that he was to come. I don't know what happened," he said.
