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President William Ruto’s allies continued their onslaught on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of blackmailing and disrespecting the Head of State.

Speaking yesterday in Imenti South constituency, Meru county, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula who was accompanied by Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah and eight MPs warned Gachagua against preaching tribal politics.

Wetang’ula warned that no country can be built by one single community and cautioned Mt Kenya region against being divided along tribal lines.

“No matter how big you are or the top office you hold, you should be careful with your words. This country cannot grow only under one tribe so Mt Kenya region, I am here to warn you not to allow your leaders to plant a bad seed of division even if they hold top offices ,” said Wetang’ula in apparent reference to the DP. 

“Be careful you people from the mountain, tribal politics cannot take you anywhere. We also have communities but we only discuss development and not political interests. I warn you because community politics can be noisy, messy and will have casualties,” he added.

Ichung’wah on his part hit out at the DP to respect the President and stop blackmailing and inciting Mt Kenya against him. “I will not keep quiet and watch a top leader forcing and intimidating other leaders and MPs from the region to follow him by force, calling them tugunia and komerera, we are not scared of you and we will continue preaching the unity of Mt Kenya because all we want to discuss as a region is development and not your personal political interests,” said Ichung’wah.

Downplayed differences

But speaking in Nakuru yesterday, Ruto and Gachagua downplayed their differences, saying they are working cordially.

Yesterday at the Akorino National Thanksgiving Prayer Conference in Nakuru county, Ruto and Gachagua appeared to calm down political temperatures amid a perceived growing rift between them.

This is the first time the two leaders were attending a church service together in over a month.

Ruto cleared the air, saying there was no rift between him and Gachagua, adding that he chose him despite disquiet within Kenya Kwanza coalition.

“I chose Gachagua because he is my age mate and I felt that we can plan things together to ensure Kenya is on the right track. Do not be worried about us,” said Ruto.

Unite Kenyans

According to Ruto, they know why they came together and their main agenda is to unite Kenyans and walk together. He instead urged other leaders who were recently seen throwing jibes at Gachagua to be respectful, saying they were young and needed mentorship to be better leaders in the future.

“We are not here because of power or luck; we are here because of God. Let us not forget how we got here and let us walk together. I promise young leaders that we will mentor you to become better than us,” said the Head of State.

He reminded all the leaders of the challenges they faced during campaigns and after to ensure the Kenya Kwanza leadership stands strong and united.

Ruto urged the leaders to stop using abusive language and spreading hate, reminding Kenyans how together with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, they united warring tribes.

 When he took to the podium, Gachagua charged his boss how he has been a loyal servant and a peacemaker, citing how he has brokered peace deals between the governors, MPs and MCAs disputes in Kericho, Kiambu, Meru and Nakuru, respectively.

Drawing inspiration from the Kenya Kwanza’s bottom-up agenda, Gachagua said unity should also be bottom up; from family to outsiders. “I am on record settling disputes and creating peace because I know disunity will affect the country. I am a good man and I call on all religions to be united and preach unity,” said the DP.

The president, however, threw jibes at Gachagua when he promised to arrive early at the next Akorino celebrations in Kiambu.

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika pleaded with Ruto and Gachagua to be Kenyan parents and lead by example in maintaining peace and unity. “You are our fathers and mothers and we look up to you. You must come together as a house because we do not want to see the directions that things are going,” said Kihika.