A section of leaders from Murang’a county have differed over the
impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Former governor Mwangi wa Iria, who is in support of the ouster
bid, said the most honourable thing for the embattled DP to do was resign.
Wa Iria said it’s unfortunate that Gachagua is at loggerheads with
President William Ruto, just two years after the two took over power.
“He should walk away and
will still be protected by the constitution. We can’t be having complaints of
intimidations in just two years.
“You cannot be fighting the President in your second year as the Deputy
President. You have to decide to join the Opposition…and you can’t join our Opposition
led by Raila Odinga because it’s already part of the broad-based government,”
Wa Iria said in Murang’a town on Sunday.
The former county boss said leaders from the Mt Kenya region who
are opposing the impeachment should know that it is a nationwide exercise that
is not being undertaken to punish the region.
Wa Iria said if Gachagua felt that his relationship with the President
had turned sour, he should have honourably resigned to avoid impeachment.
"The remarks Gachagua made when he took over his office that
the Kenya Kwanza government is a company with shareholders is what has brought
him to this. Let him carry his cross," he said.
He said it would be wrong for Gachagua to continue staying in the
government while being accused of fighting the President.
“Other countries must be wondering how we govern our countries
when we have the President and his deputy threatening each other,” he said.
Gachagua and Wa Iria, the leader of Usawa party, have been at odds
since the last general election as they both clamoured for the kingpinship of Mt
Kenya.
On hismpart, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi urged President Ruto to stop
the impeachment bid saying majority of Mt Kenya residents would be aggrieved.
Kihungi said Gachagua is the senior-most political leader in the
region and that removing him from the government would leave the region
vulnerable.
“Let’s continue being patient because we are not cowards. They
will not deny us development because it is not a favour they are doing us,
those are our taxes,” he told his constituents.
Kihungi said MPs opposing the impeachment have been receiving
threats of being denied development funds.
But he said all Kenyans have the right to development whether or
not they support the government.
“We voted for this government and Ruto told us to help him pass
the Finance Bill so he can get funds for projects. We did that and then he
withdrew it and left us in problems and now we are being told that if we don’t
support Rigathi’s impeachment, we will not get any development,” he said.
“As your MP, I will not be cowed. I will continue standing with Rigathi and plead with Ruto to help us deliver the promises we made to Kenyans,” Kihungi said, adding that they (Mt Kenya) will part ways with Ruto if Gachagua is impeached.
