Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at critics accusing him of being tribal after his relentless push for the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula.
Addressing residents in Kagio Town, Kirinyaga County on Saturday, June 15, 2024, the DP, without mentioning names, told off his critics whom he says are close friends to President William Ruto accusing them of undermining his authority.
The enranged DP went on to state that he only answers to Ruto and the people of Kenya.
He also refuted claims that his push for the aforementioned revenue-sharing formula was advocating for tribalism and inequality.
Addressing the matter that has caused jitters within the ruling party, the DP insisted that his bid aims to unite the people of Mount Kenya.
He further maintained that he would continue his push for the formula to unite the people of the vote-rich region despite sustained attacks launched on him.
“Tukisema one man one vote one shilling hatumaanishi tutenge wakenya wengine tunamaanisha mambo ya equity. Sisi tulikua na candidate anaitwa Mwaura na hatukumchagua, tukapea William Ruto. We are nationalists, not tribal. 13 percent ya Mount Kenya votes ilipewa Raila, how comes bado mnasema sisi ni wakabila?
“Sisi kama Mlima Kenya tulipatia Ruto 87 per cent ya kura zetu, nimeona watu hawakupatia rais kura ata 20 per cent wanakuja hapa kusomea watu wa mlima ati tuna ukabila, sisi watu wa mlima hatuna ukabila, tulichagua Ruto tukijua si mkikuyu, kwa hivyo kama mmepotea njia, msituingilie sisi muachane na sisi tuunganishe watu wa Mt Kenya waongee sauti moja.
“Mimi ni mwaminifu kwa Ruto naendelea kufanya kazi ile amenipea, ile kitu sitakubali ni mawaziri marafiki zake anitawale mimi kuniambia vile nitafanya kazi, sitakubali watu wachache, watu wadogo marafiki wa rais wanataka ati mimi kuniamrisha. Mimi nimeandikwa na watu wa Kenya na hao ndio wakubwa wangu. Niko na wakubwa wawili pekee yake, President William Ruto na watu wa Kenya,” the DP said.
Additionally, the DP asked his critics to show respect to the people of the mountain by respecting him, explaining that an insult to him was an insult to the people of the vote-rich region.
“Sisi ni watoto wa Mau Mau, na sisi tuheshimiwe, ukitukana deputy president unatukuna watu wa mlima. I am deputy president because of the people of Mount Kenya region, any insult or abuse directed to Rigathi Gachagua is an insult to the people of Mount Kenya region na haitakubaliwa. Sisi hatuezi kubali tugawanywe,” he added.
War of words
Gachagua’s remarks come after Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah called him out over his push for the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula.
In his fierce attack, Ichung’wah alleged that the DP was intentionally sabotaging his boss with his policies so that he could take over as president.
He went on to advise the DP to work in the position he currently is in at the moment instead of hatching ways to succeed him.
“Stop telling people at night that William Ruto is a one-term president, and you will martial your community to undermine and sabotage the government of President William Ruto so that he fails and that you become the president.
“If you want to become the president of Kenya, work in the position you have been given today to deliver to the people of Kenya, and when your time comes, they will see leadership in you. But if you seek to sabotage the government of Kenya for your own selfish ends, my brother, you will go absolutely nowhere,” Ichung’wah said.
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