‘Ruto’s administration is solid’ – Gachagua dismisses discord claims
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed claims of a simmering discord in the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the government is solid.
Speaking during a church service at the Christ is the Answer Ministries in Karen, Nairobi, on Sunday, November 27, the country's second in command termed the reports as "innuendos and propaganda".
He said President William Ruto's administration is focused on service delivery and will not be distracted.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Ruto administration is solid, is focused on service delivery and will not be distracted by propaganda, innuendos that do not make sense," Gachagua stated.
There were media reports on Sunday that the two leaders have not been reading from the same script, especially on recent state appointments.
The reports indicated that some senior politicians in the Kenya Kwanza administration were fueling the alleged discord between the President and his deputy with leaders from Rift Valley and Gachagua's Mt Kenya backyard demanding an equal share of the plum jobs.
However, Gachagua denied the reports, saying political detractors had resorted to sponsoring "screaming headlines" after failed attempts to stop Ruto from ascending to power.
“Just as you prayed Ruto to victory pray for him into success...the people who were trying to stop him have not given up, they have regrouped, they have engaged the media,” Gachagua claimed.
“If you read the media you would have believed we would not get anywhere, they have been activated and they are back.”
Gachagua, while lashing out at Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga, also defended the government's plans to import genetically modified maize into the country.
He said the President means well to the country and his engagement with the Western countries doesn't make him a puppet.
“These people, while you were away, crafted a narrative that now that you are succeeding and the world has accepted you and accepted your leadership and are responding to your various engagement, you are a puppet of the West,” he said.
“We have told them that President Ruto has the exclusive mandate from the people of Kenya to engage the West, the East, the South and the North and anybody who means well for this great country," he added.
Last week, Raila maintained that the decision to lift the ban on GMO foods by the Kenya Kwanza government was a betrayal to the country.
The former Prime Minister alleged that President Ruto was a puppet, working for foreign nations to promote foreign biotechnology institutions.
"We consider the decision to lift the ban on GMO foods and their importation a betrayal to our country. On this, the Ruto administration is not working for Kenya. Ruto is being a puppet, working for foreign nations and their multinationals against our interest as a nation," Raila said in a statement.
"Ruto is not working to promote Kenyan research work in Kenyan universities, colleges and institutions. He is working to promote foreign biotechnology institutions abroad," he added.
Raila called on Ruto's administration to reverse the decision until a debate on the matter is held and the matter is addressed amicably.
"We call upon the UDA regime to immediately reverse this decision on GMO foods until Kenyans have a robust debate on the matter," Raila said.
