Months of hostile rhetoric between the so called ‘Kieleweke’ and ‘Tangatanga’ political factions have escalated into physical violence in the Mt Kenya region.
Fears are rife it is just a matter of time before it turns bloody unless there is drastic intervention.
Scenes of political leaders and their hired youths gate crushing into churches and pubic functions to stop opponents from addressing public gatherings have become common.
The situation is worsened by the failure by police to intervene and take action to avert the ugly scenes which have become the norm.
This sends subtle messages that either the police are compromised, or were beholden to partisan political interests.
There are fears now that politicians may start recruiting armed militias to guard their gatherings in the wake of apparent police indifference in the festering scenarios.
Intolerance has escalated with politicians brazenly leading gangs of rowdy youths to storm solemn church and public events to physically eject rivals or disrupt their functions.
The physical actions are backed by unbearably violent language on vernacular radio talk shows and on social media platforms.
The dominant leadership of the Jubilee Party has maintained strange silence while usual moderating voices from the religious sector have either assumed partisan positions while the rest project helpless stance.
Kieleweke and TangaTanga factions have gained traction since last year.
The ‘Kieleweke’ brigade is loyal to President Uhuru Kenyatta while ‘Tanga Tanga’ has coalesced around his Deputy William Ruto.
The result has been what nominated Kiambu Senator, Mr Isack Mwaura, succinctly described as the region having been thrown into a situation akin to children being required ‘to painfully choose between their mother and father’.
Each group is keen to ‘colonise’ Mt Kenya as its exclusive zone inaccessible to rivals through fascist-like control of institutions like churches, councils of elders, youth groups, farmers, public transport and teachers cooperative societies’ leadership among others.
The deployment of violent hooliganism to achieve the objective is aimed at intimidation and assertion of supremacy.
Turf wars in Laikipia
Recently, Laikipia Woman Representative, Catherine Waruguru, led a group of youths into a church event attended by lead ‘Kieleweke’ mouth piece and nominated MP, Maina Kamanda, in Nanyuki town.
On Sunday, September 15, Ms Waruguru stormed the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) in Nanyuki where Mr Kamanda-a Nairobi politician ‘ was in attendance.
Ostensibly, Ms Waruruguru was incensed that Mr Kamanda had visited ‘her turf’, to spread the interests of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Mr Raila Odinga.
The Women Rep’s actions, a staunch supporter of Deputy President Ruto, shocked the church leadership led by Bishop Daniel Ndirangu.
She arrived in the compound around midday accompanied by about 200 rowdy youths at the church located at Thingithu Estate.
Unbeknown to them, Kamanda had just addressed the worshippers and was about to leave.
Mr Kamanda sneaked out through the vestry back door avoiding ugly confrontation.
Outdone by the Nairobi politician, the Woman Rep stayed put in the church, demanding to be allowed to address the congregation, but Bishop Ndirangu refused to give a chance before ordering her out.
That did not stop the theatrics as she joined her placard waving supporters and marched to a shopping centre 400 metres away to address her supporters as police officers kept vigil.
‘This is a ‘Tanga Tanga’ zone and we shall not entertain supporters of ‘Kieleweke’ to cause confusion in Laikipia County,’ she said.
Police inaction
Another ugly incident was witnessed in Kiharu Constituency, Murang’a County, where Mr Ndindi Nyoro, the area MP, stormed a church service attended by Mr Kamanda and other ‘Kieleweke’ allies.
Mr Nyoro was offended at Mr Kamanda for leading a team of ‘Kieleweke’ faction to Gitui Catholic Church to preside over a fundraiser.
He stormed the church and insisted that as the area MP, he should have presided over the ceremony. He found Mr Kamanda introducing his guests and when his turn came he refused to hand over the microphone.
The incident, attracted public hue and cry after police intervened to subdue Mr Nyoro.
Mr Kamanda had attempted to stand up, but Mr Nyoro refused to leave the podium. It then when the County Police Commander intervened.
Supporters of the MP feared he would be arrested prompting them to surge forward to rescue him. This led to a pandemonium and eventual disruption of the church event.
These wars of supremacy have been festering since March 2018.
The first signs of trouble brewing in the region was when Ruto presided over a public function to commemorate the death in office of the first governor of Nyeri County Mr Nderitu Gachagua, early this year, in Karatina town.
All elected leaders from Nyeri County snubbed the event except the host, Mr Geoffrey Gachagua.
The heightened level of political hostility displayed left little to imagination about worsening intra-region tension.
The Karatina incident was followed by violent disruption of a public event to launch a water project president over by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri.
The disruption was choreographed and led by Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu.
In the ugly scenes that followed, Mr Wambugu was captured on TV cameras protesting what he termed as ‘invasion’ of his turf by forces out to advance their own political interests ‘using projects funded by Uhuru’.
The CS found himself in unfamiliar grounds when the MP accompanied by rowdy boda boda riders arrived at the venue. Chaos erupted when Mr Wambugu attempted to take over the meeting.
According to Wambugu, the money for the project belonged to Uhuru. He claimed he had not been invited to the event and those in attendance were allies of Mr Ruto.
The response by the police and provincial administrators present- who just looked on as Kiunjuri event was disrupted- surprised many.
They watched as chaos erupted forcing villagers, especially the elderly, to scamper for safety.
