President William Ruto’s meeting with leaders from the Lower Eastern region at State House on Tuesday was marred by political tension, protocol controversy, and a significant boycott by top regional leaders. Channel 15 News can confirm that Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kelvin Kinengo Katisya and Minority Leader Hon. Alex Nganga were the only elected leaders from Kitui who defied the political tide and turned up at the event.
This move has drawn criticism and triggered questions about their allegiance, especially since Narc Party Leader Hon. Charity Ngilu was conspicuously absent, and Nganga is reported to have not consulted her. Nganga, who previously told Channel 15 News that he would not step into State House on an invitation from Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka Kawaya, was spotted seated in the second row behind UDA-aligned MPs—prompting backlash from within his party. Political commentator Peter Mbiti dismissed Nganga’s move, saying: “He’s a politician who doesn’t know when to align with the right side of history. Maybe he went for the leaders’ allowance.”
Speaker Kinengo was among a select few VVIPs who held a closed-door session with President Ruto before engaging grassroots delegates. Despite being elected Speaker with support from the Wiper majority, Kinengo has increasingly faced criticism for fueling division in the Assembly and weakening Wiper influence. During a recent Senate hearing, it emerged that under Kinengo’s leadership, Kitui Assembly has no legally constituted oversight committees. Kinengo blames the executive and what he calls rogue contractor cartels for the mess.
Channel 15 News has established that no majority or minority leadership from Makueni and Machakos County Assemblies attended the meeting. A source familiar with the meeting’s organization disclosed that Kitui leaders Kinengo and Nganga were the only county assembly leadership figures from across the region who defied their political parties and attended.
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, speaking during the burial of his uncle in Tseikuru, said: “It is not necessary for elected leaders to meet the President in such settings for him to understand the needs of taxpayers in our region.”
NLP Party Leader Dr. Augustus Muli echoed this sentiment in a phone interview with Channel 15 News, stating: “I would not be part of a meeting that breaks protocol and where invites are sent through third parties.”
The backlash against the event intensified after it became apparent that most Lower Eastern elected leaders and influential figures had deliberately skipped the meeting. Governors Julius Malombe (Kitui), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), and Mutula Kilonzo Jr. (Makueni) were reportedly whipped by the Wiper Party not to attend.
In what appears to be a last-minute rescue, reports indicate that the seven Kenya Kwanza MPs from Ukambani were each directed to ferry at least 40 supporters to fill the State House compound. Over 350 supporters from Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni were reportedly transported by bus.
The few Lower Eastern MPs in attendance included Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, ODM Nominated Senator Beth Syengo, Kibwezi East MP Mwengi Mutuse, Machakos Town MP Caleb Mule, and Kitui South MP Rachel Kaki.
President Ruto, while addressing the gathering, said: “We cannot transform Kenya when we make decisions that are merely convenient. Kenya can only be changed when we make difficult but right decisions, tough choices that speak to the destiny of our people.” He emphasized the need for collective responsibility in delivering development.
Despite his attendance, Speaker Kinengo’s role remains contentious. Critics argue that his rise on a Wiper-affiliated majority bloc only to dismantle it from within paints a picture of betrayal. Allegations persist that his leadership style has stifled accountability in the Assembly.
