Former governor Ali Roba cautions DP Gachagua over Mt Kenya politics
Former Mandera governor Ali Roba has cautioned Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks about the one-man one vote one shilling proposal by Mt Kenya politicians.
In a statement, Roba dared DP Gachagua to resign, saying that the office of the deputy president demands that he acts in the overall interest of the nation.
"The role of the Deputy President is to assist in national governance, not to serve as a regional representative. Prioritizing regional interests undermines this national duty, setting a precedent that could lead to further division," Roba stated.
This comes after former Tiaty MP Asman Kamama lashed out at DP Gachagua on March 21, 2024, saying that the proposal would only further marginalize the arid and semi-arid regions (ASAL).
"We are in Kenya by right and not by the invitation of anybody,'' Kamama said during a press conference.
The proposal by leaders from the Mt Kenya region sees a situation where areas with larger populations will benefit from the national cake than the less-populated ones.
Gachagua's position
"Rigathi Gachagua is a proponent of one man, one vote one shilling. Resources are about people. The whole issue of resources is about people. The more you are, the more taxes you pay. The more taxes you pay, when it comes to sharing you get more. We'll push that and we have no apologies to make," Gachagua said during a church service at ACK Cathedral of St Peter's Mbeere. 
"The perception of bias and inequality in resource distribution can lead to political instability, fuel discontent, and deter investment, slowing economic growth. While advocating for one’s region can be part of a leader’s role at the local level from a leader in such office it means role confusion that requires mitigation by his boss because the utterances of Rigathi Gachagwa present significant risks," he added.
These developments come just days after Ruto's advisor David Ndii, Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria opposed the view saying regions such as the Coast contribute more taxable revenue to the state compared to the populous Mt Kenya region.
"We all need to remind our deputy president that he is no longer the MP of Mathira constituency but the second in command of the Republic of Kenya. If he misses being an MP he can resign and become an MP," Roba added.
