Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga clashed on Sunday during a church service at AIPCA Church in Nyeri Town.
The bone of contention between the two was the alleged mistreatment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kahiga, who spoke first, complained that "their son" Gachagua was being betrayed and not treated well by the Kenya Kwanza government.
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"...Unajua yeye (Gachagua) ni mtoto wa Nyeri hii...Mkiniona huko napiga kelele mimi natetea mtoto wetu(You know he (Gachagua) is our son. When you see me shouting, I am just defending him)," he said.
Governor Kahiga raised concerns, claiming that Gachagua had been denied access to a military chopper for his movements, indicating that all was not well.
He also criticized the government over the Finance Bill 2024, arguing that it is too harsh on Kenyans and should be rejected.
Additionally, Kahiga complained about the allocation of funds, stating that some regions received more compared to Mt. Kenya, despite not contributing significantly to President William Ruto's 2022 vote tally.
When it was his turn to speak, Murkomen fired back at the governor.
He explained that most of the things he complained about were under Gachagua.
"Mr Governor, you have let me down. Are you helping the DP or fighting him? You speak as if you are defending him but at the same time you are opposing the government he is serving," he said.
"You have raised concerns about sugar and coffee allocations. You know very well the President tasked Gachagua to deal with coffee and sugar matters. If you speak the way you have done, are you defending him or attacking him?"
He went on to hit out at the county boss for referring to Gachagua as a regional leader, adding that it amounted to belittling him.
"Wacheni niwaambie watu wa Nyeri. Rigathi Gachagua sio Deputy President wenu. Ni Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya (Let me tell you the people of Nyeri. Rigathi Gachagua is not your Deputy President. He is the Deputy President of Kenya)," he said.
The Transport CS said the move by some leaders from the region to confine the DP to Mt Kenya region was ill-advised as his role is more national and not regional.
"If you want your own Deputy President for this area, sit down with Kahiga and plan on it. Let Gachagua go and traverse other parts of the country. He is not a leader of Mt Kenya. He was elected to become the leader of Kenya."
He added:
"I'm really sad that leaders are referring to him as "Mtoto yao". He was your son when he was Mathira MP. Right now, he is a son of Kenya."
He urged them to focus on uniting Kenya, regardless of their regional affiliations.
