Uhuru surprise guest at Mombasa church

MOMBASA: President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday surprised worshipers at the Holy Ghost Cathedral in Mombasa when he showed up for Sunday mass without warning.

The President who walked into the church at 10am, reportedly, asked priests leading the mass to treat him as an ordinary Christian and avoided making a speech even as he left for State House, Mombasa, at 11am.

There was no presence of uniformed security personnel either in or outside church, making it hard for many worshipers to notice his presence.

There were also no vehicles with GK number plates in the precincts of the church.

He quietly made his way into the church located on Nkrumah Road in a convoy of six vehicles, taking the private security personnel manning the main entrance by surprise. They team subjected two of his cars to screening, delaying his entry for five minutes.

However, when some people spotted the President who was patiently waiting to be cleared like the rest, he rolled down the windscreen and the security personnel let his convoy in.

A newspaper vendor said he jostled to sell copies to the President’s convoy at the entrance, but they were not keen to buy. He later noticed the President was in one of the vehicles. The President only waved to the faithful as he left the church for State House.

Father Vincent Ogaye, who conducted mass, said the President had asked to be treated as an ordinary Christian. Father Ogaye conducted mass with Father Robert Oyugi.

Mombasa Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivava was reported to be leading mass at Kiembeni Church in Kisauni sub county.

“The President insisted he had come as a Christian and should be treated in that manner. We are happy to have leaders who spare time to attend church instead of spending the whole Sunday sleeping,” Ogaye said after the President had left. Uhuru has been in Mombasa since last Thursday.