Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly announced that President William Ruto owes Mt Kenya region gratitude for their support in clinching the presidency.
Speaking at MCK Mikumbune Church in South Imenti, Meru County during the celebration of their 100th anniversary on Sunday, September 1, 2024, the second in command told the congregants that he has been forced to clarify the position due to a discussion he heard while accompanying President Ruto for his Nyanza tour.
Gachagua indicated that some political leaders insinuated that the Mt Kenya region was not grateful to President Ruto for giving them cabinet positions.
The deputy president dismissed those claims insisting that the Mt Kenya region is always grateful for the cabinet position allocated to them.
According to the DP, supporting Ruto during the 2022 polls was their highest form of payback for supporting former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ascendency to the country’s highest office.
“I saw some debate in Nyanza some leaders trying to suggest that in a very reckless manner that this region has not shown gratitude to President William Ruto for the positions he has given us in the Cabinet, that is not true,” Gachagua stated.
“That is trying to abuse the good people. We have shown the highest level of gratitude to President William Ruto in the sense that when he supported President Uhuru Kenyatta when his time came, we stood with him to a man. That is the highest form of gratitude a region can give to a leader in this country.”
Ruto owes gratitude
However, Gachagua made it clear that President Ruto owes the region gratitude. The DP emphasised that the Head of State is obligated to finish various development projects initiated by Uhuru’s administration and advance the region’s development.
Nonetheless, Gachagua vowed to rally behind him as he completes those projects.
“Actually in matters gratitude, it is the other way round. It is President William Ruto who owes us gratitude. Atufanyie kazi, vile barabara zilianzishwa na Uhuru Kenyatta amalize, mambo ya kahawa, majani chai ipate bei, mambo ya Nithi Bridge tupange, mambo ya kila kazi imebaki, rais na mimi tuwafanyie (He should work for us, he should complete the road projects which Uhuru Kenyatta started, matters regarding coffee started and tea should get better pricing, we plan on issues relating to Nithi Bridge and work together to finish everything),” Gachagua stated.
On the CS positions allocated to the region, Gachagua further opined that they deserve them as the Mt Kenya region sacrificed everything to support his candidature.
“He is the one who owes gratitude to this region because we have already vindicated ourselves and in the positions that we have been given, we are very appreciative to the President but the truth of the matter is that we also merit those positions because we invested everything in this government,” Gachagua reiterated.
