Bishop who hosted DP Ruto in chaos-hit Murang’a fundraiser dies, gets buried in low-key ceremony

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 14 Nov, 2020 14:28 | < 1 min read
Reverend Stephen Ng’ang’a Kamau on October 4, 2020 hosted DP William Ruto at AIPCA Church in Kenol, Murang’a County. [PHOTO | FILE]
Reverend Stephen Ng’ang’a Kamau on October 4, 2020 hosted DP William Ruto at AIPCA Church in Kenol, Murang’a County. [PHOTO | FILE]

African Independent Pentecostal Churches of Africa (AIPCA) Bishop, Rev. Stephen Ng’ang’a, who hosted Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday, October 4 in Kenol, Murang’a County, has died.

Ng’ang’a died of pneumonia on November 5, Kenol’s AIPCA Secretary-General, Simon Kimaru Maina, told K24 Digital on Saturday, November 14.

The reverend was buried on Friday, November 13 at his Gacharage Village home in Kigumo Sub-County, Murang’a County, said Maina.

According to the secretary-general, Ng’ang’a’s pneumonia worsened after he was exposed to teargas fumes in early October ahead of Ruto’s visit to Kenol.

The reverend has died aged 62.

On October 4, one person died and several were injured when chaos broke out in Kenol, Murang’a after youths clashed ahead of DP William Ruto’s visit.

The Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke rooters clashed at Kenol on the Thika-Murang’a highway in the morning of October 4, police said.

Murang’a South Deputy County Commissioner, Mawira Mungania, confirmed the fatality, and said more police officers had been deployed to restore normalcy.

Trouble began when youths blocked roads at Kenol, and started engaging rivals in running battles.

Police promised to investigate circumstances under which the person was killed.

Several vehicles were vandalised, as the main highway to Nyeri remained barricaded for hours.

Ruto was scheduled to preside over a fundraising event in Kenol, at the AIPCA Church hosted by local Member of Parliament Alice Wahome.

It was the second time Ruto’s visit to Murang’a was marred by chaos.

-Additional reporting by Alfred Maina-