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Public Service CS Moses Kuria claps back as Gachagua for a tour across his Nyeri County

The divisions within the Kenya Kwanza government escalated yesterday with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accusing President William Ruto’s close allies of undermining him.

 Addressing the faithful at Kiamariga PEFA church in Nyeri county, Rigathi claimed that some “arrogant and proud” leaders in government were on a mission to create a wedge between the President and the masses.

 Rigathi who was accompanied by his spouse, Pastor Dorcas claimed that the leaders, who he did not name, have amassed so much wealth to the extent that they are flaunting the same to the citizens who elected them in to power.

 He said: “I am an elected leader, I am not appointed and I always associate myself with the feelings, views and aspirations of those who have elected me into office. Even as I assist the president and I do to work I continuously listen to the people of Kenya so that I can give him good advice I am also able to make the right decisions because leadership is about the people.”

  “Wengine wamekuwa na kiburi, wakifungua mdomo watu wanakasirika, si ndio, na hawa watu ndio wanaharibia raisi , wanaharibia serikali, wako na kiburi sana, wamekula wakashiba halafu wanatapikia watu, si muwapatie kidogo halafu wakule muwatapikie.

And this is the problem we are having, wewe umekula umeshiba, unaongea vile untakea na kuongelesha watu vile unataka, na maringo na kiburi ambayo ni mamabo haina haja, let us help the president to succeed, let us help him in his programmes but let us be humble.

Some of these people have developed pride that when they talk, they anger Kenyans. These are the same people who are spoiling for the president and this government, these people have eaten and now that they are full, they are vomiting on Kenyans.

This is the problem we have, someone has eaten and now has developed pride and arrogance which is of no use. Let us assist the president do his work without pride.

But in a sharp rejoinder, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria took to his official X-platform to hit back, indirectly referring to the Deputy President as the “President of Mathira.”He said:

The Federal Republic of Mathira spent a bruising day on a whistle-stop tour of his country with stops in Hiriga, Kabiruini, Ngorano and Kiamariga States. The President pledged to strengthen the bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Mathira and the neighbouring Republic of Kenya.”

Mentoring leaders

 Rigathi’s remarks came just a day after Ruto told Generation Z when he engaged them on X space, formerly Twitter, that he was mentoring several leaders including Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah, Finance and Planning chairperson and Molo MP Kimani Kuria and Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu following apparent arrogance displayed during the consideration of the Finance Bill which has since been withdrawn.

Said the president: “On arrogance, not everybody understands communication. Sometimes we say things we do not mean. The young man (Molo MP) has a bright future, he is among the young people I am mentoring and I apologize on his behalf. I even called Ichungwa.  I have a responsibility to mentor them. I will correct them,” he added.

 The decision to engage Ichung’wa followed his comments in the wake of the protests where he asserted that the protesters lacked financial problems as they came to the protests aboard cabs, flaunting smartphones and retreating to eat at KFC.

 Ichung’wa later apologized for the statement and complimented Gen Z saying they have stepped forward as a unified force devoid of ethnicity.

 He said; “The Gen Z have iPhones and use Ubers to protest. Wanatoka maandamano wanaingia KFC kukula kuku na minofu, maji ni ile ya chupa…si mliwaona? Hawajui shida ya stima ni kitu gani…wako na umeme 24/7” (After the protests they get into KFC for chicken, they carry bottled water, didn’t you all see them? They have electricity 24/7.)

 Kuria on the other hand made controversial remarks regarding the 2.5 percent motor vehicle tax that had been proposed in the Finance bill.

 He claimed that Kenyans have the option of not paying the tax by not using their cars altogether. He said: “If you don’t want to pay the motor vehicle circulation tax, then don’t use the car, like how you don’t use the expressway if you don’t want to pay for it.”

 Rigathi who distanced himself from the reopening of bars said that the action amounts to setting up the President Ruto administration with the people of Mt Kenya region who are against the sale of illicit brews.

 He said: “ I would like to tell officers everywhere in Kenya I am not aware of any decision by cabinet and government to re-open bars that were selling illicit brews, those instructions are illegal and are part of the political schemes that are going on this country, those schemes are destroying this country.”

 He added: “Some bars have been reopened. No decision has been made by the Cabinet to stop the war against illicit or allow the illegal liquor joints to reopen. Anybody stopping or undermining the fight is setting the President and the Government against the people of Kenya”  Rigathi said it was unfortunate that some senior officials working in cahoots with MPS s have embarked on reopening the pubs hitherto closed due to the fact they are selling illicit brews.