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Ruto-Gachagua barbs heighten as the latter brand his former boss as “bitter and frustrated”

Tongue lashing between President William Ruto and his estranged former deputy Rigathi Gachagua heightened today after the latter told off the president who had earlier on referred to him as incompetent and tribal terming the Head of State as “frustrated and bitter.”

The former Deputy President made the remarks on the sidelines after being hosted by Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua at her rural home in Kimunye in Gichugu within Kirinyaga county.

The meeting comes following weeks of exchanges between President Ruto and his former principal assistant whose relationship have since hit rock-bottom.

Speaking in Western Kenya on Friday, President Ruto said there was need for national unity and condemned leaders who were promoting tribalism, hatred, and division in the country.

However, speaking in Kirinyaga County today, Gachagua dismissed Ruto’s allegations, stating that he supported the latter despite being from a different tribe and therefore should not call him a tribalist.

“I, Rigathi Gachagua, I am not tribal because I supported President Ruto, and he is not a Kikuyu. About 87 per cent of my community voted for him, knowing well he was not a Kikuyu…We are nationalists, and it is insulting to this community for the President to go around calling us tribal. We know he is unhappy, frustrated, and bitter that our people have left him,” he added.

The outspoken Ex-Mathira Legislator  who was confirmed impeached last October by the Senate, spoke after holding talks with the former Azimio principal claiming that it was an insult to the Kikuyu community for the President to publicly accuse him of being tribal.

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Gachagua said that President Ruto’s onslaught against him while in Western Kenya was out of frustration and disappointment. The barbs between President Ruto and his former deputy turned foe, Gachagua has escalated with the latter terming the former as “bitter and frustrated.”

He assured the public that he was committed to forge an alliance with NARC Kenya. According to the former DP, Ruto’s frustration was mainly due to the strong opposition by Mt Kenya people, whom he claimed were against the President because of political betrayal.

Karua on her part Ms. Karua accused President Ruto of being a dictator and contravening the Constitution by allegedly orchestrating abductions. Karua, who has been vocal against President Ruto’s regime, once called for Ruto’s resignation, citing a lack of accountability and the Head of State’s failure to uphold the rule of law.

“You used to complain that Retired President Uhuru was oppressing you. Retired President Uhuru allowed you to operate and did not even conduct a sham impeachment like the one you conducted in the case of my brother (Gachagua),” Karua said.  “Well you can impeach him but the people have declared him their leader,” Karua added; “When you are given an opportunity for leadership in Kenya that is not a title deed. Kenya does not belong to you, it belongs to all of us. You cannot start doing things that are not in the Constitution. We will say ‘no’ because sovereignty belongs to the people,” Karua offered.

The former Justice & Constitutional Affairs Minister added ;”Ruto should remember that he was fired from his job in June last year. Once the people reject you, resign and go home. We have seen people resigning all over the world. There is nothing special about Ruto.”

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This meeting signaled a political realignment between Karua, her once political nemesis former Gachagua amid wait for promised political alliance and political consolidation of the larger Mt Kenya region.

It also comes at a time when the former DP is attempting to consolidate the Mount Kenya vote block and rally it against Ruto in the 2027 elections. Gachagua landed in Gichugu bearing gifts for his host with a large entourage composed of his allies. Goats, sheep, and farm produce are among the goodies that Gachagua’s entourage carried.

Members of Parliament allied to the former DP who attended the meeting included; Gathoni Wamuchomba, Githunguri; Jane Kihara, Naivasha; Wanjiku Muihia, Kipipiri and Kirinyaga Senator, James Murango among others.

 

 

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