President William Ruto has donated Sh1.7m for gospel artist Rachael Wandeto, who was laid to rest in Kirinyaga amid renewed calls for justice over her killing.
Family, friends, local leaders and residents attended the burial of Wandeto, whose death sparked outrage after she was allegedly attacked and set ablaze by unknown assailants.
In a video seen by TNX Africa, Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari displayed bundles of cash donated by the President towards the burial expenses and led mourners in a thanksgiving song.
Kiambu politician Kogi Investor condemned the attack, saying no one should face violence because of their political beliefs.
“No one should be subjected to any torture, brutality or attack because of a creation, association or political stand,” he said.
Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Muratha, who presented Ruto's donation also called for tolerance and justice for Wandeto’s family.
“You may want to be ‘wantam’ or ‘tutam’ but we have a country to protect,” she said.
Muratha further condemned the killing, saying: “Mungu awaone na awalipishie kisasi. Uuwe mama aliye na watoto wadogo just because of political intolerance.”
MP Gitari pledged to follow up the case until those responsible are arrested and charged.
“I am following up this case until I see people have been arrested and taken to court,” he said.
Wandeto had gained public attention after tattooing President Ruto’s face and the phrase “Two Terms” on her chest.
According to police reports, she was attacked while running errands after assailants allegedly doused her with a flammable liquid and set her on fire.
Following her death, President Ruto linked the attack to political intolerance, accusing unnamed leaders of fuelling hostility through divisive rhetoric.
But before her death, Wandeto recounted the ordeal in a now-deleted Facebook video, claiming she was confronted by young men who accused her of benefiting alone from President Ruto’s money.
“They then poured something on me, lit a match and ran away. I didn’t have any money on my phone at the time,” she said.