Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi has launched a scathing attack on Mavoko Member of Parliament Patrick Makau, accusing him of disrespecting Governor Wavinya Ndeti and undermining the will of the people of Machakos.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Inyooni-Kwa Onyango Weir water project in Mutituni-Ngelani Ward, Machakos Town Constituency, Mwangangi criticized remarks allegedly made by Makau during a recent Linda Mwananchi rally in Machakos, saying they had sparked public outrage across the county.
The Deputy Governor said he had spent a significant part of the morning calming angry residents who were threatening to stage demonstrations and block major roads, including the busy Mombasa Road and the Machakos-Garissa Road, over what they perceived as insults directed at Governor Wavinya.
"When you insult a leader elected by the people, you are in essence disrespecting the electorate who placed that leader in office," Mwangangi said. “Governor Wavinya was elected by the people of Machakos and deserves respect regardless of political differences.”
Mwangangi expressed disappointment that Makau, whom he described as a fellow member of the Wiper Democratic Movement, had allegedly failed to uphold the values of respect and decorum associated with the party.
"In Wiper, we respect our people and we respect one another. I am ashamed to be associated with such conduct from a fellow party member," he said.
The Deputy Governor further questioned the motives of politicians who had recently left the Wiper Party to join the Linda Mwananchi political faction, describing them as defectors who had abandoned the party that nurtured their political careers.
He accused some leaders in the new political outfit of betraying their former parties and warned that Wiper supporters in the region were prepared to replace defectors with loyal candidates in future elections.
"We are serving notice to those who deserted Wiper. If you have abandoned our party, we shall field and support alternative candidates on the ground," he said.
Mwangangi also called on the leadership of the Linda Mwananchi faction, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, to rein in leaders whose actions and utterances could damage the coalition's reputation.
While acknowledging and respecting some of the coalition's leaders, he singled out Makau for criticism, claiming that his conduct was dragging the movement backwards and alienating voters.
The remarks come amid rising political tensions in Machakos County as leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election. Makau has already declared his intention to challenge Governor Wavinya Ndeti for the county's top seat, setting the stage for what is expected to be a highly contested gubernatorial race.
The exchange highlights growing divisions within the region's political landscape, with rival camps increasingly engaging in public confrontations as succession politics gather momentum.
The Inyooni-Kwa Onyango Weir project, where the remarks were made, comprises a three-kilometre water conveyance system, two storage water tanks, and a solar-powered reticulation network.
The project is expected to provide reliable water access to more than 10,000 residents of Mutituni-Ngelani Ward and surrounding areas.
