Disquiet as Gachagua faces intense opposition in Mount Kenya region

Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua is a distressed man following a division that has been witnessed in his rallies in the Mt Kenya region.

On Thursday, Rigathi Gachagua faced a hostile crowd in Githunguri when he tried to drum support for the six-piece voting pattern.

Gachagua had requested his supporters to only vote for UDA candidates a move that angered Tujibebe Wakenya Party leader William kabogo and his Chama cha Kazi counterpart Moses Kuria.

The outrage by Kabogo comes hot on the heels of acrimonious fallout occasioned by Gachagua’s alleged open bias towards Kiambu UDA governor candidate Kimani Wamatangi.

The two in a letter to Kenya Kwanza Alliance founder members Deputy President William Ruto (UDA), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya) cited bias and intimidation by the UDA deputy designate Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua recently told Inooro TV that his nomination as Ruto’s deputy has driven a wedge between his side and Mt Kenya leaders who appeared to favor Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki who garnered 24 votes from the 30 leaders present.

He said that he has been busy uniting the leaders from the Mount Kenya region and dismissed the perception that he is abrasive, crude, and dictatorial.

Former Kiambu governor William Kabogo on a viral video circulating online, Kabogo is heard urging locals to wary about Gachagua terming him a dictator.

Kabogo said that Gachagua has been fighting the fridge parties by trashing and campaigning against them during his rallies.

The ex-governor hinted at charting his political path after he ostensibly told Thika residents that he had come for their blessings.

“Mimi nimerudi hapa kwa sababu nataka kuanza safari mpya. Sipendi kwenda bila kufika nyumbani. Nimeona William Ruto na chama yake ya UDA wanataka kumeza vyama vyote. Na mimi nimekataa kumezwa.”( I am back here because I want to start my journey afresh. I don’t like starting something afresh without the blessings of my home. I have seen Ruto and his UDA party want to swallow fringe parties. I have refused to be swallowed),” Kabogo said.

UDA legal secretary Edward Muriu has said that everything will be sorted and there is nothing for alarm among the affiliated parties in Kenya Kwanza.

Muriu said that the conflict must have been witnessed during a rally in Kiambu because the parties present were eyeing the governor’s seat.

“What was witnessed in Kiambu is very unfortunate and it will never happen again, since the complaint has been lodged, we will address it amicably to avoid fall out that might affect Ruto’s presidency bid, “he said.

Muriu further denied the allegation that Gachagua is facing resistance in the Mount Kenya region.

He said that what has been witnessed is political and their supporters must be united ahead of the august.

Kiambu senate aspirant on UDA Karungo Thangw’a has accused Kabogo and Moses Kuria of hidden agenda within the Kenya Kwanza.

Karungo said that both Kabogo and Kuria are trying to hijack the UDA rally in Kiambu to sell their manifestos.

“We know and very soon we will name them, there are those that are being used by our opponents to derail Ruto’s bid to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta, “he said.

He further said that Kabogo is attacking William Ruto indirectly by hiding behind Rigathi Gachagua.

He said that every party within the coalition should popularize their bid but stop blaming Gachagua when their ill agenda fails to succeed.

“Kabogo and Moses Kuria should understand that attacking Gachagua is like fighting Ruto’s manifestos and bottom-up team and we won’t allow that, they either accept to be led or they start their path,” Karungo said.

UDA MCA aspirant Kihara Ward in Kiambu Josphat Kamanya has told the Star that what has been ailing Kenya Kwanza is sibling rivalry.

He said that the party leader William Ruto will strategize a mechanism where all the affiliated parties will be accommodated to enhance free campaigns.

“The DP Ruto as our boss will help to solve the stalemate and our supporters should remain united,” he said.

Mr Kamanya accused Azimio la Umoja of spreading propaganda aimed at tainting the Kenya Kwanza alliance ahead of August.