As the rift between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua continues to widen, Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has fired a warning shot at Mt Kenya lawmakers who have disowned the second in command.
Taking to his official X account on Monday, September 16, 2024, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker warned that his counterparts from the central Kenyan region fighting DP Gachagua might regret it in 2027.
According to Amisi, the anti-Gachagua MPs in Mt Kenya are only making him popular at no cost, by talking about him in most of the political rallies they hold.
Amisi on Gachagua impeachment
Amisi goes ahead to argue that the MPs who are seemingly allied to President Ruto, may all lose their seats during the 2027 elections, should they not impeach the DP early enough.
“Central MPs caucus is making Gachagua popular for free, and for no apparent reason, by making him a subject of rallies every day. If you don’t impeach Gachagua now, he will impeach all of you in 2027 without mercy,” Amisi stated.
Moreover, Amisi has urged the Mt Kenya MPs to tone down on the anti-Gachagua politics, and instead address the serious issues that are affecting the country such as the living conditions of Kenyans.
He further argues that a similar way of politics made President Ruto popular in the Mt Kenya region during his reign as the DP in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime.
“There is a lot to talk about in this country on living conditions of citizens, sio kila siku Gachagua. This is how Ruto was made popular in the same region. Kenya needs a renaissance!” Amisi said.
Central mps caucus is making #Gachagua popular for free, and for no apparent reason ,by making him a subject of rallies every day .If you don't impeach gachagua now ,he will impeach all of you in 2027 without mercy. Never wrestle with a pig in the mud,you will get dirty, but the…
— Hon. Caleb Amisi, MP (@Honcalebamisi) September 16, 2024
Gachagua skips Ruto event
Gachagua on Sunday, September 15, 2024, became the main topic in the political arena after he skipped an event in Nyeri that had been graced by his boss, President Ruto.
A photo from the event showing an empty delegated for Gachagua went viral.
Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa, however, explained why DP Gachagua did not accompany President Ruto to Nyeri on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
In a statement, the Senator detailed that the DP could not make it to the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA), Central West Archdiocese, Nyeri County, where his boss joined congregants for a service and planned church expansion push.
According to the Senator, Gachagua stepped in to represent Ruto at Our Lady of Sorrows Baricho Catholic Parish in Ndia, Kirinyaga Count for the Centenary celebrations.
Gachagua also explained that he did not want to leave the celebrations midway to join his boss in Nyeri.
“I was hurrying to attend another church in Nyeri then I saw there was a cake. I wondered whether an event without eating a cake is complete. So I decided to wait for the cake,” the Second in Command explained.
Ruto warns politicians
Despite Gachagua missing the event, Ruto urged the leaders present to stop the 2027 succession politics and instead focus on service delivery.
“Tunguze mambo ya 2027. Huku 2027 ni Mungu na wananchi ndio wataamua. Lakini sasa tukona miaka mitatu na haiwezi kuwa tu ya kupanga vile tutashinda tena 2027. (Let us reduce issues to do with 2027. In 2027, it is God and the voters who will decide. Right now and we cannot only focus on how to win the 2027 elections),” President Ruto stated.
Ichung’wah cautions Ruto
Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah who is allied to President Ruto used the Sunday event to issue a warning to President Ruto over what he termed as a viper in his hands.
This comes days after 48 MPs from the Mt Kenya region rejected the leadership of Gachagua and instead endorsed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the new link between the region and the Presidency.
The MPs, who spoke in Nyahururu town, claim that Gachagua has been perpetuating politics on unity to support individual and personal ambition rather than the articulation, pursuit and lobbying of the interests of Mt Kenya constituents.