All set for Ruto’s high-profile prayer meeting in Central

A high-profile meeting seen as a measure of Deputy President William Ruto's popularity in Central will be held in Murang’a on Saturday.

Although the meeting is organised by the clergy to launch Murang’a Church Sacco, the DP is expected to attend the event accompanied by elected leaders who have been coalescing around him.

Preparations for the mega rally at Kennol Trading Centre in Maragua have already started, with organisers expecting over 150 MPs.

Final touches were being put to Kimorori grounds where the gathering will take place.

The fete is being organised by a coordination committee of 256 clergymen.

Politics is likely to feature in the prayers as only MPs allied Ruto have confirmed their attendance.

Murang’a MPs Mary Waithira (Maragua) and Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), who are supporters of Ruto, said the clergy have invited all the people in Murang’a without discrimination.

“As the host MP, I am satisfied with the preparations made on the ground for the day,” said Ms Waithira, adding that leaders in Murang’a are aware that the clergy will launch their sacco after a two-year wait.

Nyoro said the prayers were open to all, as he castigated those trying to undermine the occasion with claims it would be a political rally.

Bishop Stephen Maina, who is chairing the organising committee, said they expect more than 70 MPs to accompany the DP.

Maina, a bishop with Full Time Winners Gospel Church, on Tuesday led a team to inspect the ground in preparation for the prayers.

“All is set for Saturday as we have been looking forward for the day for prayers to unite the country and the official launch of the cooperative that will assist in the welfare of churchmen,” said the bishop.

The meeting was cancelled at the eleventh hour a fortnight ago in what the clergy said was to allow the country to mourn the death of former President Moi’s son Jonathan.

While organisers of the meeting insist that the event was put off due to unforeseen circumstances, those opposed to it say it failed to materialise after divisions emerged among the clerics involved in the preparations.

Kangema MP Muturi Kigano and his Mathioya counterpart Peter Kimari, who are not allied to Ruto, said they would not attend the prayer rally “because it seems all political.”

Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, one of the anti-Ruto MPs, said he had not been invited for the meeting.