Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has once again hit out at leaders over his unity bid in the Mount Kenya region.

Addressing residents in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, August 10, 2024, the DP without mentioning names, fiercely criticized the leaders saying they were creating nonexistent narratives to serve their interests.

He added that the said leaders should not interfere with his plan for the region because the people in the area have every right to benefit from the regime due to their overwhelming support to the Kenya Kwanza government.

Gachagua went on to state that, alongside President William Ruto, they have a five-year contract of service to the people of Kenya and should therefore be allowed to fulfill their manifesto. 

He added that all elected leaders should focus on delivering their mandated roles instead of participating in sideshows which are detrimental to the country’s progress.

“Nimeona watu wengine wanajaribu kuleta debate wanasema ooh ati watu wa Mount Kenya hatuezi toka serikali…si ni hi serikali yetu, siku tuliamka mapema kuchagua Rais William Ruto si jina yangu ilikua hapo. Kama mimi sitazungumza kutoka area hii, nani mwengine atazungumza? Nasema sisi hii serikali ni yetu, the president and I have a five-year contract with the people of Kenya na wakati ukifika tutarudi hapa tena ndio mtufanyie review of that contract. As for now, this is our government we are part and parcel na kama mimi sitalalamika mbona mwengine alalamike, si kama kuna maneno unasema. Nauliza wabunge kila mtu afanye kazi yake, sisi ndio wenye kusema,” Gachagua said.

Additionally, Gachagua encouraged leaders to concentrate on the jobs they were elected to do and advised them to embrace positive talk when addressing citizens and refrain from inciteful remarks likely to cause confusion and division.

“Ukija kwa raia, toa maneno ya kupeana matumaini, wewe kama umechaguliwa kuja useme umefanya kazi gani na ile kazi umepaswa kufanya ni gani, hakuna kuleta siasa ya kukoroga wananchi na kuleta confusion katika region hii, sisi tuko nyuma ya rais William Ruto. We want to ask our leaders to concentrate on the jobs they have been elected to do,” he added.

The DP’s remarks come amid a public spat between him and National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah over Mount Kenya politics.

The MP had told the DP to refrain from advocating for regional politics since he is a leader holding a national office.

“If we truly believe that we hold offices that bestow on you the role of being a symbol of national unity, seek to unite the people of Kenya not the people of Mt Kenya,” Ichung’wah said.

“If I am the leader of the majority in the republic of Kenya, I am not the leader of the majority in Mt Kenya alone, I should seek to unite the people of Kenya,” he added.