Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a stern warning to Jubilee Party leaders over making disparaging remarks about former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during a meeting with Jubilee grassroots leaders at Thika Greens in Murang’a County on Friday, November 7, Uhuru cautioned party officials against attacking Gachagua and other leaders, calling for mutual respect and political tolerance within the party.
“Another thing I want to add, let’s stop insults. Even if you don’t want to hear me or don’t agree with me, there is no need to insult me; simply listen and form your own opinions. Insults will not take us anywhere; respect lasts,” he said.
The retired President urged party members to focus on their political agenda rather than personal attacks, warning that continued indiscipline would not be tolerated.
Kenyatta directed Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni to take disciplinary action against those who defy his directive.
Uhuru expressed disappointment that some leaders had resorted to using social media to hurl insults at others while pretending to defend the party.
“They should continue fighting for the good of the party. However, I get angry when I read on social media people defending our party but throwing insults at other leaders. Why are you insulting them? You’ve heard me, Kioni, these things of reading on social media and of people saying they are speaking on behalf of Jubilee, insulting Gachagua out there, and others, I don’t want that! If I see anyone continuing with the insults, I will not hesitate to show them the door,” he affirmed amid cheers from the crowd.
Apology to Uhuru
Kenyatta’s remarks come a month after Gachagua backtracked on his earlier apology to the former President and his family for the perceived bad blood during the 2022 General Election.
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In an interview with Embu vernacular radio journalists, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader revisited the events surrounding his public apologies, in which he had previously admitted that the political attacks against the Kenyatta family during the campaigns amounted to “cannibal behaviour where we ridiculed and shamed our king.”
Gachagua, in the interview on Thursday, October 9, insisted that there was nothing to apologise for. After Kenyatta reneged on his promise to support his then deputy, William Ruto, in the 2022 presidential race, Rigathi led a group of “Mt. Kenya rebels” who threw their weight behind Ruto
The region ultimately delivered a decisive victory for Ruto, who garnered 87 percent of the votes cast, while Kenyatta and his preferred candidate, the late Raila Odinga, secured 12 percent.
The campaigns leading up to the vote were marked by public spats, some of which, according to political analysts, crossed the line of healthy debate and descended into personal attacks.
Following his impeachment as Deputy President in October last year, Gachagua reset his political strategy, founded DCP, and began a public apology tour to the Kenyatta family.
“Ruto lied to us and made us hate our son and our king. Never again will we ever repeat that mistake of hating our leaders in the mountain and practice politics of self-cannibalisation,” he said at one time.
Gachagua backtracks
But during the interview with Embu vernacular radio journalists, the DCP leader appeared to revise that position.
Also Read: Kaguchia Slams Jubilee for Fighting Gachagua’s Rise
“There was no party that was in the wrong; it was all politics. Politics is not a Sunday service, and neither is it a wedding. There are those things he said, and there are those things we said. I have no intention to apologise to Uhuru Kenyatta. Apologise for what? He was backing Raila Odinga, a controversial figure. I was fronting Ruto, a bad man. So, who wronged whom? Who should apologise to the other?” asked Rigathi.
The former DP also maintained that his presidential ambitions remain alive, noting that his court appeal against his impeachment is still pending.
On the question of forming a united opposition front, he reiterated his belief that Kenyans would not forgive a breakaway third force, saying that every politician must earn their place through the people’s support.
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