‘Tunapendana’ – DP Gachagua dispels reports of fallout with Ruto
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has downplayed reports that he has fallen out with President William Ruto.
Speaking on Sunday, May 26, 2024, during an Interdenominational Church Service at Matharu Primary School in Kesses, Uasin Gishu County, Gachagua insisted that he was still on good terms with Ruto.
"The President and I are doing a good job. We love each other. He has given me a lot of work, sometimes I am overwhelmed. He has enabled me to do my work. Our government is firm," Gachagua said.
"President William Ruto is a trustworthy leader, a patriotic leader and a leader who unites the people. He is not tribal and he protects his people."
Gachagua said that he was bringing to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) people from his community, who are affiliated with other political outfits.
Recently, there have been reports of a fallout between Gachagua and Ruto, with their allies engaging in a bitter exchange.
The reports were seemingly confirmed by Gachagua's push for "one man, one vote, one shilling" revenue-sharing formula, which Ruto has opposed in the past.
“I am not very clever but I am not stupid. I know a lot of issues that most people don’t know. I made a decision as the senior most leader in Mt Kenya to unite everyone irrespective of where they voted. I am here again proposing the one man one shilling one vote. Anybody who opposes it from our region is just a traitor. Even during the time when we were fighting colonisation, these traitors still existed,” Gachagua said a week ago.
Over the weekend, the second in command was engaged in a bitter exchange with Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a close ally of President Ruto.
Speaking on Saturday, he accused Rift Valley leaders of meddling with Mt Kenya political affairs, something that did not sit well with Sudi.
"Sasa iko watu engine mumeshikana hapa Rift Valley na vijana engine huko kwetu ati mnapanga siasa ya 2032, nyinyi mnataka kumridhi rais William Ruto akiwa hai? Sasa hii upuzi ya 2032 ni ya nini? Can we focus? So the problem Senator Mandago, is a few leaders of this region who have proximity to the president. Mnakoroga siasa ya huko kwetu, kudanganya watu ati waanze kupanga mambo ya 2032," Gachagua said.
According to Gachagua, every leader should focus on the politics of their region and avoid plotting on the politics of other regions.
"Naomba watu wa Bonde la ufa tafadhali sisi tuliunga rais mkono kwa hiari yetu na kupenda, na tunaendelea kumuunga mkono, tunaomba heshima kidogo, msijaribu kutupangia siasa ya mlima Kenya na uongozi wa Mlima Kenya, nyinyi mpange siasa yenu na uongozi wenu. Siku William Ruto atastaafu after 10 years sisi hatutaingilia vile mnataka kupanga, nyinyi mtapanga wenyewe. Siasa ya huko kwetu hamuezani nayo, ni ngumu sana. The politics of the mountain is so complicated it can only be understood by the mountaineers," Gachagua added.
Sudi responds to Gachagua
In response, Sudi told Gachagua that he cannot control where he goes or how he handles his political affairs.
"You cannot control where I go. If we all stayed in our respective constituencies then we could not be in government. We had to fly all over the country to ask Kenyans to elect this government. I am not someone you can threaten. I have been threatened enough and this does not move me," Sudi told Gachagua.
Gachagua was not present to receive President Ruto after his state visit to the US, raising more questions than answers on their relationship.
Gachagua was also missing in action in government events where President Ruto was present before he traveled to US.
