Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, convened a meeting of 11 senators from the Mt Kenya region even as squabbles in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) escalate.

According to Gachagua, the meeting which was also attended by Lamu Senator Joseph Kamau Githuku, was aimed at auditing the success of devolution in their respective counties.

Mt Kenya senators who attended the meeting include Kathuri Murungi (Meru), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), Mwenda Gataya (Tharaka-Nithi), Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), Alexander Mundigi (Embu), Methu Muhia (Nyandarua), Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga), Wahome Wamatinga (Nyeri), Tabitha Karanja (Nakuru), John Kinyua (Laikipia) and nominated Senator Veronica Maina.

“Continuous engagement with elected leaders is a catalyst to development for our People. It is also the best forum for feedback on what our employers think and feel about our leadership. I had a fruitful engagement with Senators from eleven Counties, to audit the success of Devolution in their respective counties,” Gachagua stated.

Impeachment against Gachagua

This comes days after ousted UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala claimed that there was a plan to impeach Gachagua initiated by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.

Malala, who was removed from his position and replaced by Hassan Omar, insists that the two Mount Kenya leaders were behind the scheme to strategically position themselves within the evolving political landscape.

“The impeachment was instigated and propelled by Mrs Cecily Mbarire and Mr Kimani Ichung’wah. These two want our Deputy President out so they can strategically position themselves within the merging political realignment,” he said.

Malala further stated that his removal was part of a larger strategy that aimed to culminate in Gachagua’s impeachment, citing his positive working relationship with the Deputy President as a source of irritation for Mbarire and Ichung’wah.

“My ouster by these officials had nothing to do with incompetence or my inability to run the UDA party; it was a well-choreographed script intended to climax with the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua,” he explained.

“When their concerted efforts to pit me against my Deputy Party Leader failed, I was profiled and labelled an obstacle to their evil plot and conspiracy to have Rigathi Gachagua impeached.”

Omar warns Malala and Gachagua

In response, Omar trashed Malala’s claims, accusing him of seeking sympathy from Kenyans through the claims.

“We wish to caution Malala against roping the party and particularly its Chairperson and the Majority Leader in the unfounded claim of Deputy President’s impeachment and seek his sympathies through any other means. We find it gross that he is now casting aspersions on the part of the party’s leadership, regrettably invoking the names of Party Chairperson Governor Cecily Mbarire and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah in the purported impeachment,” Omar stated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Malala was legally and procedurally removed from office as the Secretary General of UDA, and the same acknowledged and ratified by the Registrar of Political Parties. The office subsequently effected the changes as required of it by law.”

To Gachagua, Omar warned that the Deputy President should not use the issue of Mt Kenya region to arm-twist other party officials.

“There is no co-presidency to occasion an entitlement on the part of any leader and neither is there a gatekeeper for any region or for any set of MPs,” Omar said.

Several leaders from the Mt Kenya region allied to Gachagua had been complaining that President William Ruto had been meeting Mt Kenya leaders in the absence of Gachagua.