The governor was seated close to the president during the service, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also in attendance.
The seating arrangement and Kahiga’s presence drew attention, given his past public criticism of the president and his earlier association with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In recent months, Kahiga has kept a low profile on national politics.
He has also reduced his public appearances alongside Gachagua, especially following the impeachment period that reshaped political alignments within the region.
His appearance with the president is being seen by many as a sign of shifting loyalty.
This is not the first time the Nyeri governor has been spotted with President Ruto. During the Mount Kenya tours in 2025, Kahiga accompanied the president during several stopovers in the county.
At the time, he defended his engagement with the national government, saying cooperation between the two levels of government was necessary for development.
The governor has, however, attracted controversy in recent weeks. He faced criticism after remarks linked to the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga angered leaders and residents from the Nyanza region.
The comments led to public distancing by figures associated with the opposition, who insisted that Kahiga was closer to the government than to their political camp.
Sunday’s church service also featured other notable political signals. Former presidential economic adviser Moses Kuria welcomed President Ruto to Nyeri ahead of the visit.
Kuria, who has recently been vocal in his criticism of the government, shared a message online ahead of the event, a move that sparked mixed reactions.
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