Ruiru residents boo Gathoni Wamuchomba during Ruto tour

Kiambu Woman Rep Gathoni Wamuchomba’s move to demand for a better pay has already started haunting her newly-established political career even after she gave a public apology.

Ms Wamuchomba’s woes, which she has been grappling with since she made the remarks about two weeks ago, deepened on Sunday after she was humiliated by Jubilee supporters during Deputy President William Ruto’s tour of Kiambu.

Ms Wamuchomba, who was among county leaders who had accompanied Mr Ruto, found herself in unfamiliar territory when a crowd at Githurai Trading Centre in Ruiru booed and refused to be addressed by her.

During the stopover, Mr Ruto who was in the county to campaign for the repeat of the presidential elections, was introducing other leaders in the entourage when he decided to give the radio broadcaster an opportunity to speak.

SHOUTED DOWN

But when Mr Ruto attempted to pass the microphone to Ms Wamuchomba, the crowd shouted that they did not want the MP to speak.

“Hapana, haapana, haapana. Hatutaki kuongeleshwa na Gathoni wa mishahara. Usimpatie microphone, hatutaki kumsikiza (No, no, no, we don’t want Gathoni (of the salaries fame) to speak to us. Don’t give her the microphone, we don’t want to listen to her.”)

Perhaps after reading to mood, Mr Ruto who watched the happenings in shock and disbelief retreated, and instead handed over the microphone to Senator Kimani Wamatangi, who was next according to protocol.

Ms Wamuchomba garnered 922,829 votes in the August 8 election, the third highest tally after President Uhuru Kenyatta and his main rival Raila Odinga.

ACCUSED OF GREED

She has been under fire from her electorate who have accused her of greed and lack of respect after she supported a push to have MPs’ salaries raised beyond what has been recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

She made her sentiments during a live interview on NTV in which she demanded to be paid well.

“I want to be paid well, I worked, I fought it out to be a Member of Parliament, I campaigned and used my resources...I want to be paid well. I want to be honoured for who I am and what I have been able to achieve,” Ms Wamuchomba said during the TV interview.

An outrage then followed, which saw some of the residents start collecting signatures to block her swearing in. Ms Wamuchomba quickly issued an apology.

REMORSEFUL

“I remorseful apologise for the pain I may have caused. I would also like to offer my sincerest apologies to my party patron and President, my fellow Kiambu constituents, my staff, my family, and especially to all Kenyans who were offended by my comments," she said in her apology.

But it seems the apology has done little to appease Kiambu residents or help the MP, who was on Sunday making her first public appearance, at least going by the happenings which left her humiliated.