Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday tested the political waters in Kirinyaga County, where he attended a thanksgiving and re-dedication church service, at St. Thomas Cathedral, Kerugoya.
The second in command was hosted by Kirinyaga woman representative, Purity Wangui Ngirici, who, thereafter, welcomed the DP to her home in Kerugoya.
In photos seen by Opera News, of Ruto at Ngirici’s home, the deputy head of state is sitted in his signature cross-legged position, fully relaxed on a leather couch while engaging in a hearty conversation with Ngirici, her husband, and a few other people inside the house.
Cheeky netizens were, however, quick to point out that Ruto does not seem properly welcomed since there is not even a glass of water on the table.
The fiery arch-rival to area governor Anne Waiguru is seen as one of Ruto’s anchors to the elusive Mt. Kenya region, and was an active participant of the now fading Inua Mama group under the DP’s Tangatanga faction.
My husband and I Hosted His Excellency the Deputy President this evening at our kerugoya home .
As a family and community we are grateful for the love he has continually showed the people of kirinyaga at large. pic.twitter.com/TZYpInaWnz— Hon. Wangui Ngirici (@WanguiNgirici) February 9, 2020
In 2018, Waiguru was badly embarrassed by goons allegedly hired by Ngirici during an event attended by Ruto, with the governor accusing the MP of dishonorable conduct.
In 2019, she was excluded from the guestlist for Waiguru’s wedding, held in Kirinyaga, with Ngirici left to send her best wishes off-site, advising Waiguru to closely guard her husband.
Other rebel Kirinyaga leaders were also not invited to the function.
The MP is a vocal critic of ODM leader Raila Odinga, and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which she, in line with team Tangatanga’s view, describes as a ”waste of money and resources which should be disbanded.”
Ngirici is prospected to go for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat in 2022.