Political rift and divisions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and by extension the Kenya Kwanza Alliance has widened with rival factions pitting president William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua seemingly working in close purposes.
Today, while retreating in Kiambu, a key Mount Kenya vote bloc, DP Gachagua issued a tongue lashing statement telling off his opponents in UDA that political schemes to divide the larger Mt Kenya region ahead of 2027 presidential polls would utterly fail.
Gachagua made the remarks a day after he openly claimed during a live TV interview with Citizen TV that a plot has been hatched to impeach him as the sitting Deputy President after co-opting of the opposition’s ODM party into government and spirited political push to have Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the larger Central Kenya spokesperson.
Previously, claims of plot to ouster Gachagua have been floated.
“We respect the president and we will continue supporting him so that he can succeed. Those attempting to divide Mt Kenya region into camps of Meru, Embu and Central Kenya are engaging in a futile exercise. The plan won’t succeed because the people are intelligent and want to remain united, they will guard their unity.” Gachagua said.
However, speaking separately today, National Assembly Majority Leader who also doubles as Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah, a sharp critic of Gachagua dismissed impeachment assertions by the DP terming it as a sympathy seeking gimmick.
Similarly, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party came to the defense of the government wing allied to the president defending the broad based government.
ODM Party chairperson and Homa Bay county governor Gladys Wanga said the DP is not happy about the inclusion of former ODM party officials into the government.
Wanga said Gachagua has all along protected the government against “infiltration” by those opposed its formation.
“It’s all about shareholding that brought that bile Kenyans watched on TV…We expected the DP to talk about frustrations our fishermen are undergoing here in Lake Victoria or about sugarcane farming in western Kenya. Wanga said in Kisumu today in the company of ODM Secretary for Political Affairs Rosa Buyu.
On his part, Ichung’wah was speaking after the burial of his family friend and former employee George Owiro at Pap Nyadiel village in Alego Usonga constituency.
Ichung’wah noted that the DP’s remarks were an attempt to incite people from the Mt. Kenya region against their Members of Parliament.
The Kikuyu MP warned Kenyans of the DP’s intentions to create a political instability should things not go his way days after he led a team of 48 MPs in declaring Kithure as the Mt Kenya spokesperson in what they termed as the Nyahururu accord.
Gachagua told off his critics and said he will continue working with all leaders irrespective of political parties affiliation or region in pursuit of development.
While urging the people of Mt Kenya to remain united for development, Gachagua said there was a political scheme hatched to divide the region into political camps ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the plan will fail.
“As a Leader of Majority, I can tell you there has never been an impeachment plan against him. That has been a creation of those that he walks around with. It’s a sympathy seeking gimmick to try and incite people from the Mt. Kenya region against MPs.” Ichung’wah said.
“If you listened to him, he passed a veiled threat to Kenyans, saying that an impeachment motion would cause political instability, or rather he framed it’s about stability of the nation. What he meant, is that he is trying to threaten that should there be one, there will be political instability.” He added.
However, the National Assembly Majority Leader noted that any MP is at liberty to bring an impeachment motion against the DP, President, Cabinet Secretary or any official, pointing out that there are no exemptions.
“No MP has ever proposed, even to collect signatures. It’s only the DP who’s been speaking about his impeachment. Probably, he’s calling for it or he might imagine that he can incite one region of the country against the MPs. I’ve put my chest forward to defend the MPs.” He noted.
Ichung’wah speculated that Gachagua’s endgame is to ultimately vie for the presidency in the 2027 elections and was hence focused on his personal interests instead of national issues.
“Gachagua has not said whether he’s a candidate in 2027, though all indications show that he wants to run for president. I hear he wants to be friends with Kalonzo, Wajackoyah and such characters. He’s at liberty to do that. But the focus we want him to focus on is the delivery of our manifesto.” He claimed.
Gachagua spoke in Limuru town, Kiambu county and took on a section of politicians whom he said have raised the country’s political temperatures.
He addressed the public after visiting his old and longtime friend, Stephen Ndung’u Njenga, a veteran politician and former Councilor for Ndeiya Ward.
“We are asking MPs to reduce politics and focus on work. The people of Kenya do not want politics; they are interested in service delivery from the Government and their leaders. Those engaging in politics should wait for the electioneering period.” Gachagua said.
Gachagua said it is slightly two years after the 2022 General Election adding that politics has no space now.
“I will work with all leaders irrespective of tribe and affiliation. Kenyans want a conducive environment for business and economic growth. The people of Mt Kenya do not want politics of divisions. They want development. It is slightly two years after the 2022 elections, so we should focus on work.” The DP said.
He was in the company of Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, MCAs, led by Kiambu County Assembly Majority Leader Mucheke Waiyaki and the host MCA Nduta wa Muongi among other leaders. Former Laikipia County Women Representative Cate Wagururu was also present.
The leaders backed the Deputy President’s message saying they will also continue promoting inclusivity and unity of the community.
“In other regions, people are united and their leaders are working. They are asking why there is high octane politics in the Mountain region. We are cautioning Government Officials to stop engaging in politics.” Senator Thang’wa said.
“We elected Kenya Kwanza Administration willingly. We want respect for the Deputy President and the development of our people. We rallied behind president Ruto because of his Deputy Gachagua. The Deputy President is a courageous leader and is loved by all people.” MP Wamuchomba said.
