Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has called for the arrest of Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua.
Atwoli was speaking on Monday, September 2024 when he called for DP Gachagua’s arrest following the latter’s sentiments recently in which he warned President William Ruto against betraying him.
“President William Ruto is out of the country, and he is on top of his car, the Deputy President misleading people and misguiding the nation. He must be arrested, if it were the KANU government we would have arrested him in the morning ” said Atwoli.
The COTU Secretary General further opined that the position of the DP should be declared through appointment and not through an election as a Presidential candidate’s running mate.
According to Atwoli, assuming the role of the DP by being a presidential candidate’s running mate makes the office holder think that they are of the same level with the head of state.
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Atwoli Criticizes DP Gachagua
He criticized DP Gachagua for contradicting the president and government policies adding that he needs to play his role of being a deputy.
“I said earlier on, the position of the Deputy President must remain of appointment, being appointed by the president and there would be none of this circus you hear,” added Atwoli.
“Deputy President should be an appointee of the president, not a running mate because when he becomes a running mate, he thinks he is also a president.”
Atwoli’s sentiments come after DP Gachagua on Sunday warned President Ruto, urging him to avoid reviving the politics of betrayal that have historically sparked acrimony in the country.
Warning to Ruto
Speaking at a church service in Thika Town, Gachagua voiced concerns about a purported plot to oust him from office, asserting that any form of betrayal would not sit well with the people of the Mt. Kenya region.
Also Read: Gachagua Reveals Confusion in Presidential Protocol That Saw Him Miss Ruto’s Event
Accompanied by his political allies, including Wamuchomba and ousted United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party Secretary General Cleophas Malala, the DP cautioned against a repeat of the betrayal that defined the 2022 elections.
He reminded President Ruto that his election victory was largely due to Mt. Kenya’s rejection of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s perceived betrayal when he backed Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga instead of his then-deputy Ruto.
“Let us not reintroduce the politics of betrayal,” Gachagua stated. “Ruto is a beneficiary of Mt. Kenya’s disdain for betrayal. Our people hate it and are unforgiving.”
DP Gachagua further emphasized that Mt. Kenya voters rallied behind Ruto as a response to Kenyatta’s perceived abandonment.
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