The requiem mass of the late Ol Kalou lawmaker David Njuguna Kiaraho at Captain grounds in Nyandarua County on Wednesday played host to deep-seated political tension between President William Ruto and Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua.
The two leaders who shared a podium for the first time this year, engaged in a war of words over a myriad of issues, among them the 2024 impeachment of former president Rigathi Gachagua and the 2027 presidential contest.
Gachagua directed salvos at President Ruto, saying that he managed to impeach him from office but he can not impeach him from the hearts of the people of Mount Kenya.
“You managed to hound me out of office, but as you can see the people of Mount Kenya still love me. I am still in people’s hearts.
“When l was being hounded out of office the late Kiaraho was intimidated and asked to take part in the illegal proceedings, but stayed firm. All the other MPs were paid to impeach me. He never betrayed me that is why l am here to mourn the hero,” stated Gachagua amid cheers from the crowd.
“We overwhelmingly voted for you, but ahead of the 2027 polls, you will have to convince us to give you a second term. You betrayed my people and hence lost the respect you had gotten,” added Gachagua.
Mr Gachagua further asked President Ruto to tame his lieutenants led by Kimani Ichungwa to stop insulting him all the time.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu who was the first to speak, charged the mourners, after he accused President Ruto’s allies of developing a habit of insulting the former DP.
“I respect you, Mr President… but I do not fear you,” Mr Methu said, igniting political storm in the presence of President Ruto, his estranged former deputy, and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the tense requiem service for the late MP.
‘I dare you’
Senator Methu, who described Gachagua as the people’s deputy president, dared Ruto-allied leaders to speak ill of him during the requiem mass.
“(National Assembly Majority Leader) Kimani Ichungwa, I dare you insult the people’s deputy president in his presence today, here in Nyandarua and you will see fire…just dare,” said the senator amid cheers from the crowd.
The rare convergence of rival political camps quickly descended into an open confrontation as Methu delivered a blunt and defiant address that laid bare deepening cracks within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Taking the podium to loud applause after being ushered in by Kinangop MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Funeral Organising Committee Kwenya Thuku, the senator acknowledged both Ruto and Gachagua before launching a scathing critique of the President’s inner circle.
“Is this how you love Rigathi Gachagua? The same leader who is hated, insulted and kicked out?” Methu posed, accusing allies of the President of orchestrating sustained political attacks against the former second-in-command.
The charged atmosphere escalated into brief drama when Thuku attempted to cut Methu short, snatching the microphone mid-speech. The move triggered uproar from thousands of mourners, forcing organisers to return the microphone as chants and cheers filled the venue.
Undeterred, Methu pressed on, accusing the Ruto regime of failing to honour key development pledges in Nyandarua.
“Mr President, you promised that your administration would complete various road projects here, but you have not done so. Is that playing politics?” he asked.
He further thanked mourners for refusing to shame former Mr Gachagua at the funeral as planned”.
“You have done us proud. You have refused to shame my party leader, we understand you were brought in last night to heckle us. But we are overwhelmed by the love you have shown us. You have proven to the world how much you love Mr Gachagua and his team.”
Mr Methu told the Head of State that he evicted Mr Gachagua from the government, but not from the people’s heart, and that he remains the people’s DP. He equally challenged the President to dare insult his former DP to test his popularity within Ol Kalou.
When President Ruto stood he defended his development record as he dismissed Gachagua for what he termed as engaging in primitive and selfish politics.
“We should stop this primitive style of politics. In 2027, every leader will be voted based on his development record. I urge leaders to stop introducing own selfish fights to cause rifts between me and the people who voted for me overwhelmingly. People of Mount Kenya are very clever,” said President Ruto, while vowing to unite the whole country.
During the emotional event, Kiaraho’s family eulogised their father as a kind, generous, focused leader, while at the same time giving signals that the late MP’s firstborn son, Mr Tugi Kiaraho, may join politics to succeed his father.
After reading his father’s tribute,Tugi said the family strongly supports President William Ruto’s government.
“We have known you since 2013. Our father told us that you are a very loyal person. You stood with my father since 2013 and you have stood with us since his demise. I assure you Mr President that our family is firmly behind you,” he said.
In her tribute, Kiaraho’s wife Jackline’s message was full of praises for the husband, his achievements at family and public level as a politician, and finally concluding that his son was ripe to take over the mantle, after more than 10 years on mentorships from his father.
For the first time, the family disclosed that the late MP had been ailing for the last two years, but they did not disclose what he was suffering from.
A second requiem mass will be held at St Andrew’s PCEA Church in Nairobi on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 12pm.
Kiaraho will be buried on Friday, April 10, 2026, in Tigoni, Kiambu County, where the final church service and interment will be conducted, marking the conclusion of the send-off proceedings.
Kiaraho died on March 29, while undergoing treatment at the Nairobi Hospital.
In recent months, he had been in and out of the hospital, both locally and abroad.
