Politicians aligned to the Kieleweke political faction are finding it increasingly hard to sell their messages through in different areas they visit during the weekends.
The group, which is composed of politicians seen to be anti-Deputy President William Ruto, has targeted areas inhabited by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s supporters where they visit and accused the DP of disrespecting his boss.
However, the group has been receiving hostile reception forcing them to seek the company of police officers who accompany them to church functions.
When the group visited Naivasha on May 12, residents led by area MP Jayne Kihara were irked by remarks made by the Kieleweke politicians in the church leading to a clash that saw a visibly angry Kihara tell off the group.
When the church ended, the group left in a huff as residents threw verbal jabs at them.
On June 9, led by Maina Kamanda, the politicians made their way into ACK church Maruingi in Kandara accompanied by uniformed police officers.
Worshippers at the church were angered by the move to have uniformed police officers flood their ceremony.
“This people should just keep away. Why come here with all these uniformed police officers to disrupt our church?” Jane Wangui Kagiri, a Kandara resident, asked on Sunday.
Kieleweke politicians accompanied by uniformed police officers during a church service in Kandara on June 9, 2019. Photo/Ngunjiri Wambugu
One of the politicians in the Kieleweke outfit said they have to be armed because the ‘ground is not good’.
“We have to be armed even when we attend church and on top ask that the local security accompanies us to these functions. Weare dealing with a great force and it is not easy,” the politician told this writer.