Kneeling, wailing, and rolling on the ground as if possessed by some nyawawa spirit all in the name of the Holy Spirit is a tired political script. It’s a strategy Kenyans saw in 2022 during President Ruto’s campaign, and voters are no longer buying it.Online commentators have called Kiio out, accusing him of trying to dupe Kitui residents with cheap religious theatrics. Many say the people of Kitui can now clearly separate genuine faith from staged political theatrics whose aim is to hoodwink voters.

This spectacle happened during an interdenominational prayer meeting held at Kitui Stadium, but instead of inspiring confidence, the spectacle appears to have raised more eyebrows than prayers.