NYANDARUA, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made a public appeal for calm and decorum on Wednesday during the memorial service of the late Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho, as political tensions spilled into the solemn event.
The service, held in Ol Kalou town, brought together leaders from rival political camps and was marked by visible unease. The atmosphere turned charged when sections of the crowd broke into “One Term” chants as Moses Wetang’ula acknowledged dignitaries in attendance.
Taking to the podium ahead of President William Ruto, Gachagua urged mourners to refrain from heckling the Head of State and to respect the sanctity of the occasion.
“There will be no confrontation here. This is a solemn occasion, and we come in peace—and I am sure, President, you have come in peace,” Gachagua said.
He implored the crowd to listen attentively to the President’s address and allow him to conclude without interruption. “He should be listened to, and when he finishes, he should be allowed to go. I do not want to hear anything from you when the president starts to speak,” he added.
Gachagua emphasised the need to separate political disagreements from national respect for the presidency, noting that Ruto was democratically elected.
“William Ruto should be given his respect because he is the president. We loved you, we respected you, and we elected you. If we have a problem, we will deal with that in 2027,” he said.
He further cautioned mourners against turning the memorial into a political battleground, specifically warning against the use of “One Term” chants in such a setting. “I do not want to hear ‘One Term’ here. That is something we will do out there. This is a respectful event,” he told the crowd.
The memorial service comes at a time of heightened political tension in the Mt. Kenya region following Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024, an episode that exposed deep divisions among regional leaders. Since then, factions aligned to Gachagua and President Ruto have been locked in a struggle to consolidate influence at the grassroots.
The late Kiaraho, who died on March 29, 2026, had been politically aligned with the President’s camp, adding a layer of sensitivity to the event attended by leaders across the divide.
The Ol Kalou gathering also marked one of the few public appearances where Gachagua and Ruto shared a platform since their political fallout, drawing significant national attention.
In the days leading up to the memorial, Gachagua had insisted he would attend despite reports that some of the President’s allies were opposed to his presence, underscoring the fragile political dynamics at play.
