As the Kenya Kwanza parliamentary group congregates to strategize on the Finance Bill 2024, the divisions within the ruling party, pitting President William Ruto’s allies against those of his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, are one of the key agenda items.
Kenya Kwanza Alliance Chief Whip, Silvanus Osoro, has revealed that members of the ruling coalition want President Ruto to warn his deputy during the congregation scheduled for Tuesday, June 18, 2024.
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Speaking to the media, Osoro said Gachagua will be reprimanded before the president when he chairs the UDA parliamentary group meeting.
“We really expect that because if he doesn’t, then the members will tell the deputy party leader that he is being too tribal,” Osoro said.
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Why MPs Want Gachagua Warned
According to Osoro, UDA legislators are angered by Gachagua’s misconduct and are now demanding action be taken against the second-in-command by the president himself.
Osoro said the MPs are worried about the DP’s behavior, which threatens to split the executive right in the middle.
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“We also expect him to tell his deputy to stop being tribal and focus on his national agenda,” he added.
Gachagua is also facing accusations of undermining the Office of the President, propagating tribalism, and championing the seclusion of one region from the others while calling for the one man, one vote, one shilling formula for sharing resources.
Also Read: Governor Explains How Ruto is Setting Up Gachagua for Failure
“It is about time he realigns himself with our vision of one Kenya, one country. It is wrong to undermine a region based on how they voted, especially when it comes from the deputy president, who is the second-in-command in this country,” Osoro explained.
Several UDA leaders have also taken issue with Gachagua for asking MPs to stop touring other constituencies and focus on developing their regions.
The whip maintained that the DP understands his mistakes and will not feel offended when the president calls him out.
“The DP is a politician. He understands when politicians are speaking, and when he has gone astray. I believe he may not take offense,” Osoro said.
Also Read: Gachagua Missing as President Ruto Jets Back to the Country
DP on Mt. Kenya Unity Calls
Gachagua has made headlines over his calls to unite the Mt. Kenya regions and claims of mistreatment from a section of Ruto’s allies.
His quest to unite the central region has seemingly rubbed President Ruto’s allies the wrong way.
While calling for unity within central Kenya, where he comes from, the DP has been called out for propagating tribalism, and others have accused him of insubordination.
Gachagua has also been absent from some of the president’s functions, the latest being Monday, June 17, when he was conspicuously absent at JKIA when Ruto jetted back from Italy.
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