Raila-Ruto relations begin to disturb Mt Kenya

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hosted President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Kisozi country home in Uganda. [PCS]

After a period of silence over emerging bromance between President William Ruto and Opposition chief Raila Odinga, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has waded into the waters sending messages that he was alert of political undercurrents unfolding in the country.

Mr Gachagua, who is in Mt Kenya region where he will spend four days, is seemingly consolidating his political base following the Ruto-Raila deal. He was in Embu on Friday and Saturday, was yesterday in Laikipia and will still be there today.

Yesterday he said he was aware of the emerging political dynamics and ‘the enemies of the region were using youthful MPs to divide the region so as not to talk in one voice.

County lines

“We are keenly following the evolving national politics. We are watching from afar but we know as long as we are united, no one will shake us as the Mt Kenya region. Nobody should be told to divide us along the county lines because if we fall for that trap, we will be doomed,” Gachagua told the residents of Embu.

In what may lead to high voltage politics in the near future should he be eclipsed by Raila in the administration's pecking order, Gachagua announced that the region was ready for everybody who may be having plans to plot against the Agikuyu community.

Using the Agikuyu proverbs tuthomaga me bahasha’ which means ‘we read letters while in the envelope' loosely translates to ‘we are able to read between the lines and another proverb Mucemi akorire Mukungi a proverb which loosely translates to mean a person who tries to be cunning, his deceitful plans are detected early enough. Gachagua said the region was prepared and was united against any political aggression.

At the same time, the second in command claimed there were plans by ‘the enemies of Mt Kenya region’ to use the youthful leaders to divide the region along the counties' lines, reminding his community of its political journey since 1992 

"In 1992 when we had not seen the light, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Nyandarua supported Mwai Kibaki while Kiambu, Murang'a and Nairobi supported Kenneth Matiba and that is how we stayed out of power for five years. We suffered. We repeated the same mistakes in 1997, a move that saw third President Daniel Moi win .''

Gachagua said by 2002, the region had learned its lesson and up to 2022 the region has been voting along one pattern

"That is how we have remained relevant and in government. We want to move forward as a team so that we may vote for President William Ruto as a united pact in 2027,” Gachagua said.

While the Deputy President was measured in words and avoided using a name of any person in his remarks, his allies who seem to have smelt a rat in the Raila-Ruto apparent good relations, assured Gachagua of their political allegiance while others vowed to ‘deal with any leader who may disrespect Gachagua’ on account of Raila’s new relations with the government.

Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruuku, who spoke in Gachagua’s presence, said should the government’s efforts to assist Raila acquire the African Union Commission chairmanship be extended to disrespecting Gachagua, the regional leaders will defend him to a man.

“Any leader who fails to accord Gachagua his respect as the Deputy President and as the leader of Mt Kenya region, we shall deal with him man to man. Any leader in the whole country, regardless of his position and status, who may engineer a narrative to disrespect Gachagua because of the government’s efforts to assist Raila for the AU position, we shall deal with him,” he said. 

Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who is also the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chair and who hailed Gachagua for pushing for the appointment of Embu sons and daughters to State appointments, said they would reciprocate by supporting and defending him to the end.

“We shall rally and coalesce around Gachagua. He pushed for the appointment of Attorney General Justin Muturi, the appointment of Consolidate Bank’s chairperson Muriuki Njagagua, among others,” the governor said.

Governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) and Joshua Irungu (Laikipia) have come out asking President Ruto to be careful of Raila as he has infiltrated the government in the past and caused havoc.

Crafty politician

Laikipia Governor Joseph Irungu said "Raila is a crafty politician and can’t be trusted. Ruto should only close one eye while dealing with Raila since he can start something fishy anytime."

Gachagua is also on record disclosing that he met with Raila who enquired from him why he was opposed to the bipartisan talks.

“This Mzee (Raila) found me at the of Mukami Kimathi in Nyandarua and he probed me on why I was opposed to talks and whether I was afraid. But I told him to his face that I was not afraid of talks but I was afraid of him. He has destroyed everywhere he has gone right from Moi government to Uhuru’s government,” he said.