Senate majority leader slams Gachagua for marginalising northern Kenya
By Luke Oluoch, August 23, 2025Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has slammed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, terming his tenure as the DP as a divisive figure.
Speaking at an empowerment forum in El Wak, Mandera County, on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Cheruiyot rebuked the DCP leader for his remarks, particularly those concerning marginalized regions, which he claimed were excluded from government benefits.
The Kericho senator lambasted the DCP leader for his comments, particularly his claim that regions like El Wak had no share in the government.
He noted that the former deputy president was dismissive of such areas, telling leaders who sought an audience that they had no stake in the government. The senator also criticized the DCP leader’s stance on the government’s decision to remove the vetting procedure for northern Kenyans seeking essential civil documents.
“Sasa tuko na Naibu wa Rais uke mwini alikuwa cartoon na sarakasi ingine. Alikuwa anangalia hapa El Wak anasema nyinyi hamna share. Viongozi wenu wakienda ofisi anasema yeye hana wakati wa Al Shabab.”
Translated as: “We now have a deputy president. The other we had was a cartoon and a laughing stock. He used to look at regions such as El Wak and say this region has no shares. When your leaders sought an audience with him, he used to say that they do not have shares in the government.
“Yeye anaenda America anasema eti rais amefungua maneno ya vitambulisho eti sasa Al Shabab wataingia Kenya,” he stated.
While lobbying for the Kenya Kwanza government, the senator assured the government’s commitment to bring the marginalized region at par with other areas, stressing that Ruto was committed to undertaking the task.
“We did good to chase him away. Kenya is one united country, and no region, not even northern Kenya, will remain behind. We want to thank the president for removing the vetting exercise. The president is also willing to ensure this region is not left behind and it is developed like others,” he added.
His sentiments mirror those made by his senate counterpart and Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, who termed the DP a national embarrassment.
Speaking on Wednesday, June 2, 2025, in an empowerment forum in Hola, Tana River, Mungatana hailed Gachagua’s successor as a man fitting the DP title.
“We have now embraced Kindiki as a good neighbour who has visited us frequently. He is also a fitting DP. The former was a shame of a president. He used to claim and say that the coastal region is not in his plans, and so on. His plans were only shares of the people from his backyard,” he stated.
“It is the reason why we said we will control him. Mwengi Mutuse came up with a motion that got him impeached. We want to build a Kenya that is united, but he (Wamunyoro) wanted to chain us with chains of tribalism. It is why we are now united and heading in one direction as coastal leaders,” the former Garsen MP stated.
.