Kuria denies any tiff between him, Deputy President

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria yesterday refuted claims of bad blood between him and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua but insisted the second in command was not the Mt Kenya political kingpin.

In recent times, the two leaders have been drawn in war of words over who is the kingpin of the Mount Kenya region with Kuria thinly appearing to disapprove Gachagua’s political supremacy in the vote-rich Central Kenya region.

In a turn of events, Kuria supported Gachagua’s remarks in a Kiambu church on Sunday where he said the region has no kingpin.The CS said that those in elective positions are the respective kingpins of the regions that they represent adding that the region is yet to pronounce itself on who its overall leader is after the exit of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Seniority in government doesn’t qualify him (Gachagua) as the kingpin. What of those who didn’t vote for him but voted for Martha Karua and Raila Odinga candidature? Kikuyus are not predictable, they first assess weigh their leaders before they can make their decisions. People should not fight over such an issue,” he said.

Shareholder remarks

He faulted the DP over his shareholder remarks in the Ruto administration saying that the government will work for Kenyans without considering their political affiliations.

“I have six parastatals in my ministry with no single Kikuyu and it does not bother me. Every Kenyan must be empowered. The government intends to have all regions in this country contribute towards economic stability,” he said.

However, Kuria said that Gachagua is his boss and he is answerable to him because he chairs the cabinet sub-committees.

Revealing that there existed political differences between him and Gachagua in the past, Kuria said that they have been resolved and both leaders are now focusing on serving the public in their respective offices in government.

“He (Gachagua) came to Parliament in 2018 at a time when I had already served one term there. I was his senior in the National Assembly while serving as the vice chairman of the Roads Committee, we worked on many road projects in Mathira constituency,” Kuria said in Kameme FM’s morning show dubbed Arahuka yesterday.

Kuria said that he was initially supporting the then National Assembly Speaker, now Attorney General Justin Muturi as President William Ruto’s running mate for the 2022 General Election. But Gachagua has dismissed the kingpin talk, saying he was not interested in such a role.

No kingpin provision

“I have read the Constitution, there is no provision for a kingpin. Where is the kingpin office? How much is his salary? If there are people who want that office, I am not part of it, I am Deputy President,” Gachagua remarked. “My office is in Harambee House, another in Karen, and there is a salary… and a job to do. If there are people interested in that position, let them take it.”

Gachagua at the same time, said the Kenya Kwanza government had no issues with retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and will accord him the respect he deserves.

The DP said the past differences between the government and the former president no longer exist and urged for unity among all leaders. Addressing congregants at a Sunday service at ACK St James Cathedral in Kiambu, Gachagua said by keeping off politics, Uhuru had helped in restoring peace in the country.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta is our son from Kiambu. He served as our fourth President. We had differences with him, but those differences are now in the past. He has retired, returned home, and kept a low profile, and we respect his decision,” Gachagua remarked.

He added: “Our differences came when he supported a person we were opposed to, now that politics are behind us, lets forge unity for the betterment of our people.” According to Kuria, the genesis of their indifference started when Gachagua endorsed Kimani Wamatangi’s candidature for the Kiambu governorship seat, which disfranchised other candidates who were in the Kenya Kwanza coalition but vying in different parties.

“Deputy President should have been neutral but he chose to support Wamatangi because he was vying in the President’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party yet former governor William Kabogo and I were also supporting the president because we are all in Kenya Kwanza coalition,” Kuria explained.

He added: “I had my party knowing what I was doing. People (Kiambu voters) didn’t have a problem with me despite being swept by the UDA wave. I have no regret, however, of being in my own party (Chama Cha Kazi) and I thank the God of another chance who touched Ruto to give me a job as Cabinet Secretary.” Kuria defended his absence in Gachagua’s recent meetings in the Mount Kenya region saying that he had other commitments elsewhere.