Nyeri, Kenya — What began as a routine political event in Othaya quickly turned into a scene of chaos as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki faced hecklers chanting “one term” slogans during his speech on Wednesday.
Now, Nyando MP Jared Okello is accusing allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of being behind the disruption.
“It is not happenstance that this happened right after the President and his deputy received a thunderous welcome in Homa Bay,” said Okello in an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday morning. “The Wamunyoro team is still nursing the post-impeachment disorder.”
The term “Wamunyoro team” has become a political nickname for a group of opposition leaders said to frequent meetings at Gachagua’s rural home in Nyeri County.
Okello, a staunch supporter of President William Ruto, insisted that the hecklers were not just rowdy locals but individuals deliberately placed to stir unrest.
“You could see them clearly. Just a handful of boys standing outside the fence, shouting,” he said. “That’s a classic political move—plant a few to make noise and grab headlines.”
The heckling in Othaya was captured on video, with sections of the crowd loudly interrupting Kindiki’s address. The chants of “one term” appeared to question President Ruto’s chances of securing a second term in office.
But Okello believes the moment backfired on the opposition.
“What they thought was Ruto’s weakness is now his strength. His reception in areas like Homa Bay shows he’s not a one-region president,” he argued. “Support is growing, and the signs are everywhere.”
The incident in Nyeri comes as political alliances continue to shift. Gachagua, once a central figure in Ruto’s administration, has now thrown his weight behind a newly energised opposition movement. He’s aligned himself with Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka, who lead the People’s Liberation Party and the Wiper Party, respectively.
The group is also said to include key figures like former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K, signalling what may become a powerful bloc ahead of 2027.
So far, Gachagua’s camp has not responded directly to Okello’s claims. However, political analysts warn that such public accusations could heighten tensions in an already polarised climate.
Local observer Eunice Mwangi, a political scientist based in Nyeri, cautioned against drawing fast conclusions.
“Heckling is nothing new in Kenya,” she said. “It’s part of political theatre. But pointing fingers without hard proof can deepen divides.”
Whether the disruption was an organised protest or spontaneous frustration, it’s clear that Kenya’s political temperature is rising. And with Ruto’s camp keen on consolidating support while rivals regroup, scenes like those in Nyeri may become more common in the months ahead.
