Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has downplayed claims that Deputy President William Ruto left Kisii town on Sunday bitter and frustrated following a poorly attended fundraiser for Anglican Church at Gusii stadium.
A section of county residents claimed in social media that Mr Ruto boarded his private jet to Nairobi without shaking the hand of Maangi on allegations that the deputy governor had failed to mobilise top political leaders from the county to attend the function.
However, in a quick rejoinder, Mr Maangi downplayed the claims on Tuesday during a press conference, terming them fictitious and unfortunate.
“The deputy president came to a church function and not to a political function. It’s sad that people are spreading fictitious information in social media. It’s really unfortunate that our people are politicising even church functions,” he said.
He said the invitation to the highly publicised Gusii stadium function was done by Anglican Church and all attendees had come to honor the invitation.
“Going around saying that I was obliged to ensure Kisii leaders attended the function is a malicious lie. I was invited by the church to help them but as a senior official, I had to welcome the DP to our county as protocol demands,” he said during a press conference held in his office.
He said the function ended earlier than expected because the countries second in command had another function to attend in Nairobi.
“It’s not true that we didn’t shake hands but it’s true that the function ended two hours earlier because the DP was rushing to Nairobi for another function. It’s important though that our people desist from politicising church functions. I have special working relationship with the government and I don’t think such a thing (Ruto not shaking his hand) could have happened,” he added.
Apart from Mr Maangi, the only high profile leader from the region who was in attendance was Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tong’i.