- Governor Kahiga raised the issue with claims that Gachagua had been denied a military chopper for his movements saying it was an indicator that all was not well.
- Murkomen hit out at the county boss for referring to Gachagua as a regional leader, adding that it amounted to belittling him.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga on Sunday clashed during a church service they attended at AIPCA Church in Nyeri Town.
Image: MUTAHI KAHIGA/FACEBOOK
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga on Sunday clashed during a church service they attended at AIPCA Church in Nyeri Town.
The borne of contention between the two was the alleged mistreatment facing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kahiga, who spoke first, complained that "their son" Gachagua was being betrayed and not treated well by the Kenya Kwanza government.
"...Unajua yeye (Gachagua) ni mtoto wa Nyeri hii...Mkiniona huko napiga kelele mimi natetea mtoto wetu(You know he (Gachagua) is our son. When you see me shouting, I am just defending him)," he said.
Governor Kahiga raised the issue with claims that Gachagua had been denied a military chopper for his movements saying it was an indicator that all was not well.
He also hit out at the government regarding the Finance Bill 2024, saying it is too harsh for Kenyans adding that it should be shut down.
Kahiga went on to complain about the allocation of funds saying some regions were given more compared to Mt Kenya yet they did not contribute enough votes in President William Ruto's 2022 vote basket.
But Murkomen fired back at the Governor when he took his turn to speak.
He explained that most of the things he complained about were under Gachagua.
"Mr Governor, you have let me down. Are you helping the DP or fighting him? You speak as if you are defending him but at the same time you are opposing the government he is serving," he said.
"You have raised concerns about sugar and coffee allocations. You know very well the President tasked Gachagua to deal with coffee and sugar matters. If you speak the way you have done, are you defending him or attacking him?"
He went on to hit out at the county boss for referring to Gachagua as a regional leader, adding that it amounted to belittling him.
"Wacheni niwaambie watu wa Nyeri. Rigathi Gachagua sio Deputy President wenu. Ni Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya (Let me tell you the people of Nyeri. Rigathi Gachagua is not your Deputy President. He is the Deputy President of Kenya)," he said.
The Transport CS said the move by some leaders from the region to confine the DP to Mt Kenya region was ill-advised as his role is more national and not regional.
"If you want your own Deputy President for this area, sit down with Kahiga and plan on it. Let Gachagua go and traverse other parts of the country. He is not a leader of Mt Kenya. He was elected to become the leader of Kenya."
He added:
"I'm really sad that leaders are referring to him as "Mtoto yao". He was your son when he was Mathira MP. Right now, he is a son of Kenya."
He urged them to instead work on uniting Kenya regardless of whatever region they come from.