Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome faced a hostile reception in Murang’a after remarks directed at Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro sparked open resistance from sections of the crowd during President William Ruto’s development tour.
Wahome, who was accompanying the President, ran into trouble while addressing residents in Murang’a town within Kiharu constituency where the mood quickly turned against her.
In a direct appeal to the MP, Wahome attempted to persuade Nyoro to work more closely with the government, linking his recent public statements on key economic issues to his perceived distance from the administration.
“Ata mjumbe wa hapa Kiharu ni rafiki yetu kwa sababu mheshimiwa Ndindi tulitafuta na yeye kura, na kwa hivyo kuna mambo anaongea akiwa nje ya serikali; kuna mambo anaongea ya ushuru, ya mafuta, ya uchumi. Mimi nauliza Ndindi kama ndugu yangu, hiyo mambo unaongea haiwezi fanyika ukiwa nje ya serikali. Tunauliza mheshimiwa Ndindi arudi kwa serikali,” she said.
Her remarks, however, were met with growing chants of disapproval from the crowd, with residents interrupting her speech and rejecting the message.
The situation quickly escalated, forcing Wahome to cut her address short as the noise drowned out her attempts to continue.
The reaction highlighted the political sensitivity of Kiharu, where Nyoro continues to enjoy strong grassroots backing despite recently taking a more critical stance on government policies, particularly on the economy and fuel prices.
Wahome’s experience also reflects widening cracks within Mt Kenya politics, where leaders allied to the President are facing increasing resistance when confronting figures seen as charting an independent path.
Kiharu is fast shaping up as a key battleground, with public sentiment suggesting that efforts to pressure Nyoro on his home turf may only be strengthening his standing among constituents.
The incident adds to the growing political tension in Murang’a, where early signs of 2027 alignments are beginning to play out in real time, often in front of charged and unpredictable crowds.
