A spirited push by a section of Kenya Kwanza MPs to debate the conduct of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was swiftly shoved away by President William Ruto on Tuesday.
When he rose to address the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Gachagua ignored the nudging and rallied for the Finance Bill, 2024.
The Star has established that some lawmakers baying for Gachagua’s blood wanted the DP dressed down during the PG over his alleged ”condescending behaviour”.
In interviews gleaned from MPs who attended Tuesday’s PG, the President shrugged off the attempts to have his deputy censured.
Instead, the President dispatched Gachagua to represent him during Wednesday’s swearing-in of President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa.
At least two MPs who broke the ice said they wanted the PG to look at the conduct of the DP in light of his recent stance that they argued contradicts the President.
One of the MPs questioned Gachagua’s loyalty to the President citing his recent remarks about Mount Kenya unity and claims that Ruto’s allies were undermining him.
“It is good that it is put on record if all of us are in the same government because we are portraying a very different picture out there despite what we say here,’’ said one of the MPs.
While the MP did not mention Gachagua by name, the remark directed at seeking the President’s direction on the matter left no doubt that the lawmakers wanted the veil lifted to discuss the DP.
Another MP rose and questioned why some leaders were rocking the government from within through utterances he said were aimed at whipping ethnic animosity.
“I want to know why we are being called names. In the House, and all can bear witness, we have been called names whose meaning we don’t understand like Komerera and Tukunia. Why are we being labelled?’’ posed the MP.
But when he rose to speak, the President told MPs that the meeting on Tuesday was solely to discuss the Finance Bill, 2024 and that another forum would soon be convened “for the other issues’’.
It is understood that the President’s intervention was a warning shot to the critics of the DP.
The refusal also demonstrated that Ruto had confidence in his deputy and would not entertain any debate about his conduct.
Gachagua recently accused people he said are close to the president of fomenting discord in his Mount Kenya backyard.
He said the campaign by his critics is aimed at undermining him.
“There are some people who are friends with the president and who want to be my boss. Just because you are the president’s friend you want to become my boss. PAs(Personal Assistants) want to order me around on how to work. Is that possible? Even President Ruto’s bloggers want to tell me what to do,’’ Gachagua said last weekend.
The refusal also demonstrated that Ruto had confidence in his deputy and would not entertain any debate about his conduct.
Gachagua recently accused people he said are close to the president of fomenting discord in his Mount Kenya backyard.
He said the campaign by his critics is aimed at undermining him.
“There are some people who are friends with the president and who want to be my boss. Just because you are the president’s friend you want to become my boss. PAs(Personal Assistants) want to order me around on how to work. Is that possible? Even President Ruto’s bloggers want to tell me what to do,’’ Gachagua said last weekend.
The DP, last week fired a warning shot at his critics, daring them to address Mount Kenya residents directly instead of addressing their issues from other regions.
Gachagua was referring to a section of Kenya Kwanza MPs who have scoffed at his Mount Kenya unity campaign, terming the drive as divisive and tribal.
“If you think talks of Mount Kenya unity are not good, do not talk in Rift Valley or Western. Come here and call for a gathering and tell the people why unity is not good. Come and speak from here,” Gachagua said last Wednesday.
Some of the Kenya Kwanza leaders including Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah and Majority Whip Sylnavus Osoro over the weekend tore into the conduct of the DP.
They told Gachagua to quit the government if he was not confident in the leadership of President Ruto.
“Work in the position you have been given today to deliver to the people of Kenya and when your time comes, they will see leadership in you. But if you seek to sabotage the government of Kenya for your own selfish ends, my brother, you will go absolutely nowhere,” he cautioned.
Gachagua has insisted that his current political stance is solely to amplify the suppressed voices of the people.
“I have no voice in this Kenya. I only listen to the people. If you hear me say something, know that is what the people want. I speak on behalf of the people,” Gachagua asserted.
