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| Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua |
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has gone on the offensive amid reports of an apparent fallout in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. Rigathi Gachagua stated that they were misled to attack former president Uhuru Kenyatta. The second in command expressed regret for his actions, which saw former president Uhuru Kenyatta ostracised by Mt Kenya voters in the 2022 General Election. Gachagua claimed that they were misled into turning against the retired head of state, adding that he had already sought the region’s forgiveness. “As I said, we will never again come against our kingpin. We were misled, we attacked and shouted down president Uhuru Kenyatta. I requested for apology did you forgive me? Never again will we attack our leader, never again,” Gachagua said. The DP observed that it was only in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region that they turned against their kingpin, urging them to unite. “Let us love each other. Other communities do not fight or hate one another. But there is always war here in our mountain. There is no day we will ever come against our kingpin like that. Tell our young people not to accept to be used to fight our Kingpin,” he stated. What is Gachagua’s take on hustler nation The DP further took a new stand on the bottom-up message that catapulted the UDA team to victory in the 2022 General Election. During the roadside rally, Gachagua differed from the messaging emphasised by Kenya Kwanza during the polls on the rich against the poor. Gachagua warned the residents against hating people because of their wealth, adding that they would one day come to their aid. “Don’t stab your brother from behind. Don’t be jealous of your sister that she has been married to a rich person. That rich man could be the one to educate your children,” the DP added. Gachagua’s olive branch to political nemeses The deputy president had earlier vowed not to fight his fellow Mt Kenya natives while observing that political unrest was simmering in the region. He claimed external forces were the ones sowing discord among Mt. Kenya voters. For that, he swore never to face off with a ‘brother or sister’ from the mountain. He is on record inviting Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Jubilee Party’s Jeremiah Kioni, both from Azimio, to his side. It is on record that Gachagua’s efforts to rally Mt Kenya behind him have been frustrated by the wayward stances of several elected leaders from the region.
by Didacus Malowa