Transport and business activities in Embu town came to a standstill on Tuesday, October 14, after hundreds of protestors marched to the streets to protest against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The residents are accusing the former Deputy Head of undermining their Governor, Cecily Mbarire. Gachagua slammed the county chief for aligning herself with the Kenya Kwanza Administration.
The protestors, the majority of them being women,gathered in the streets of Embu with whistles, vuvuzelas, and placards, which bore messages like "respect our leaders."
The residents also tagged along a music system that was playing 'two-term' chants on repeat, a slogan that has gained popularity among supporters of President William Ruto.
The residents urged the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader to publicly issue a public apology to the governor, some saying that attacking the governor was equivalent to attacking the whole county.
"I want this message to reach Gachagua. We will fast and pray, and if he wants peace, he should beg for forgiveness from our governor," one resident said.
In his speech on Sunday, October 12, Gachagua claimed that Governor Mbarire, alongside her Kirinyaga counterpart, is among the leaders he is planning to shame for aligning themselves with President Ruto's administration.
"Let us agree on what I will do. Wherever I go in Mount Kenya, I will be calling out the traitors by name so that people know them. Whether you are a man or a woman. We will tell our people who the traitors are so that the President doesn't finish this community," Gachagua said.
It did not take long for Gachagua's utterances to spark outrage among residents of the two counties. On Monday, October 13, residents in Kirinyaga County marched through the streets of Mwea with placards slamming the DCP party leaders for their statements.
Protesters also lit bonfires along the busy Kutus-Samson Road, causing traffic disruptions and attracting attention from local authorities.
Several protestors claimed that undermining female leaders in the region was an attempt by the DP to coerce the entire Mount Kenya bloc to back the opposition.
"He should know the governor (Waiguru) did not place herself in office. We voted her in. So when he insults the governor, he is also insulting us," a protestor said.
"Those people inciting you (Gachagua) so that you insult Waiguru only want her seat. They should know we are the ones responsible for voting in the next governor," another one said.
