Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has castigated former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent efforts to court the Kamba community, using what he calls the cousin narrative.

In a lengthy statement posted on his X account on Monday, June 9, 2025, Kaluma questioned the sudden closeness between the Kikuyu and Kamba/Kisii communities, noting the inconsistency in Gachagua’s approach.

He wondered how leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka and Fred Matiang’i are now being branded as cousins to the Kikuyu community, yet leaders from the Ameru and Aembu, such as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who are close to the Kikuyu community, are excluded from it.

“So, when did Kalonzo and Matiangi become cousins of Gachagua when DP Kindiki is not? When did Kambas and Kisiis become closer cousins of Kikuyus than the Aembu and Ameru people? These guys!” Kaluma questioned

Gachagua’s tenure as DP

The MP accused Gachagua of being selectively ethnic in his dealings during his time as deputy president.

He pointed out that when Gachagua had the opportunity to allocate eight Cabinet positions, all were handed to individuals from the Mount Kenya region, ignoring other communities, including the Kamba.

After the Cabinet was disbanded in 2024 and six new slots became available, Kaluma noted that Gachagua once again allocated all of them to his community, raising questions about his sincerity in now referring to Kambas as cousins.

“When Gachagua was DP and was given 8 Cabinet positions, he took all to the Kikuyus. When the Cabinet was disbanded and he was given 6 slots, he picked all Kikuyus. Didn’t he realise Kambas are cousins then?” Kaluma said

So, when did Kalonzo and Matiangi become cousins of Gachagua, when DP Kindiki is not!
When did Kambas and Kisiis become closer cousins of Kikuyus than the Aembu and Ameru people? These guys! When Gachagua was DP and was given 8 Cabinet positions, he took all to Kikuyus. When…

— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (Commentaries) (@gpdkaluma) June 9, 2025

According to Kaluma, Gachagua is not genuinely seeking to build alliances based on shared values or unity. Instead, he is looking for communities he can use to further his narrow, tribal-driven political agenda.

Kaluma warned that this pattern has existed for decades, where certain leaders use other communities during political struggles, only to abandon them once their goals are achieved.

“Gachagua is not looking for ‘cousins”. He is a divisive character looking for people to misuse. Whenever they want to pursue their narrow ethnic agenda, the tribalists rope in other communities to fight their wars under all sorts of disguises, “ he added

He said the same tactic has been used against the Luo community since independence and cautioned the Kamba and Kisii communities not to fall into the same trap.

The legislator insisted that what is being sold as cousinship is simply a political strategy to exploit regional loyalties for personal and ethnic gain.