Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua has asked Mt Kenya residents to pray for former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament (MP) Jeremiah Kioni.

Gachagua was speaking during a tour with President William Ruto in Shamata, Nyandarua County on Thursday.

“Please pray for Kioni because he is embarrassing us by wearing sufurias on his head. He is still our child you know,” the second in command told locals.

Gachagua accused Azimio leader Raila Odinga of misleading the embattled Jubilee Secretary General.

“Huyu mzee aliharibu Kioni wetu, mtoi wetu mpaka akaanza kuvaa sufuria kwa kichwa.”

This comes a day after the DP said the country will now move forward smoothly following Odinga’s absence.

“Rais sasa ameshika steering ya Kenya. Tyres zote ni mpya. Petrol tank tumejaza full tank na makanga ni mimi. Sasa gari inasonga,” he added.

Odinga is currently in the United Kingdom.

Talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza through a 10-member committee are ongoing in a bid to resolve differences between the two coalitions and put a stop to ‘maandamano’.