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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed not to relent from uniting the Mt Kenya region despite the criticism he is facing from a section of the political class.

The DP, speaking at Our Lady of Visitation Timau Catholic church in Meru County on Sunday, June 2, 2024, said he will not be stopped from preaching peace and unity of purpose in the region.

“I don’t see why someone should have a problem with the unity of a region because other regions have their own peculiar interest which cannot be discussed on a national level so if we discuss our own issues as a region, why would one try to isolate us because of being unified?” Gachagua posed.

He added nobody should be an enemy of the unity of regions noting communities are free to meet and speak in one voice to enhance their political and social interest to have a share of the national cake.

“I have seen Western Kenya, North Eastern and other regions uniting and discussing their development issues. What’s wrong with Mt Kenya doing the same so we should have a bottom-up model of unity from region to the country?” he added.

Gachagua was accompanied by his wife Dorcas Gachagua, governors Kawira Mwangaza (Meru) and Joshua Irungu (Laikipia) and a section of Members of Parliament from the region noted there is a need to forget the last election politics and move forward as a country.

Gachagua’s forgiveness

The DP further noted he had decided to forgive his last election opponents and make peace for the interest of the nation and region.

“I again don’t know why people are having a problem with me forgiving my brother or my sister who differed with me in the last election. Politics is temporary and we don’t want to go to the next election while divided again,” Gachagua said.

Gachagua who was on records seeking forgiveness from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family added he did not find a reason to remain bitter.

“I was badly wounded, humiliated and persecuted in the last election by my own people and got to the office very bitter but through prayers, I decided to forgive everybody who wronged me,” he added.

Addressing faithful, the deputy president noted he did not see the reason why the 13 per cent that voted for Raila Odinga and 87 per cent that supported President William Ruto should not come together and unite for the interest of the country.

“Kenya is made up of regions let us not stab your brother in the back because you find he is moving forward and don’t hate your sister because she is married to a rich man since that man might educate your children. Let’s not fight each other but forgive and love one another for the sake of the unity of the nation,” he added.

He at the same challenged the Meru county boss and members of the county assembly to bury the hatchet and unite and work together to achieve remarkable developments in the region.

“Kawira you cannot work alone and achieve anything so I am requesting you to sit with other leaders and MCAs and forgive each other to steer development,” Gachagua said.