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| UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar |
The infighting within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party seems to be far from over. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar stated DP Rigathi Gachagua is President William Ruto’s principal assistant, not a co-president. In the latest escalation, party secretary general Hassan Omar has told off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. During a press briefing, Omar took Gachagua to task for what he perceived as an overreach of authority, reminding him he is not President William Ruto’s co-president. He emphasised that Gachagua’s role was not one of shared leadership but rather of principal assistance to Ruto. “There are two options; I was there when you were being selected, not elected as deputy president. You were selected on the basis that the mountain had agreed to vote for William Ruto because it was an appreciation that we needed a candidate from the mountain region. “It could have been anybody, the outcome would have been the same. We went there to vote for William Ruto and for you to assist him. We didn’t elect you as the co-president. Learn the Constitution; you are the principal assistant to the president, you are not a co-president,” Omar said.
What is Omar’s warning to Gachagua? The secretary-general warned Gachagua against undermining the presidency, asserting that such behaviour could lead to a loss of respect for him in the Office of The Deputy President. He gave insight into Gachagua’s selection, revealing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki was the front runner for the seat until the change was made 12 hours into the decision. “If you start to undermine the presidency, we shall also stop to respect the Office of the Deputy President, not as an office but as a person. Therefore we are asking for one nation. You were selected, and I repeat, you were selected; I was there, and the decision to select you over Kindiki changed over hours. It could have been Kindiki as deputy president, it is in public domain,” Omar claimed. He further challenged Gachagua to prepare for the 2027 elections if he felt unsatisfied with his current role. “Therefore, if you feel uncomfortable, if you feel there are votes you brought on board as the rest of the speakers have said, exit the scene, go and prepare yourself for a contest in 2027 and let us see which Kenya will elect a tribal bigot as president,” Omar concluded.
by Didacus Malowa