DP's Diary: Gachagua pledges loyalty in tour with Ruto

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua moved to allay fears of differences with his boss by joining President William Ruto on the trail in his development tour of Nyanza.

Days after telling his Mount Kenya backyard that the region is firmly in government, Gachagua accompanied Ruto in his three-day tour of the Gusii region.

The DP has been on Ruto’s side since the president unveiled the broad-based government on July 24.

It is understood that the DP is keen to cement his place as the second in command amid reports of alleged differences with his boss.

He had claimed that the country’s spymaster Noordon Haji had misadvised the president on the sponsors of the protests by linking him to the wave of protestations that rocked the country.

In a rare yet bold move, Gachagua also alleged that the protests were instigated by the government’s failure to listen to the concerns raised by the public.

The DP’s claim signaled a point of no return with Ruto especially given that he also alleged that some of the people close to the president were being used to harass him and target his allies.

Loyal to the president

However, over the last two weeks, the DP has moved to calm concerns that he has fallen out with his boss and rallying Kenyans and senior government officials to remain loyal to the president.

On Tuesday, Gachagua urged the newly appointed Cabinet to remain loyal to President Ruto even as it remains responsive to the needs and aspirations of Kenyans.

"Loyalty to the Head of State and Government is not negotiable. You are now soldiers in an army that has only one General," he said.

"You are now also bound by collective responsibility, and no matter your personal views on a matter, once it is directed by the President or resolved in Cabinet, your duty is to jealousy, fiercely, and firmly defend it."

In one of the toughest talks to newly appointed CSs, the DP said Kenyans must learn to live with each other as the broad-based government will unite all people irrespective of political affiliations.

"When I look and find Hassan Joho, Wandayi, and Mbadi in the same Cabinet with me, I appreciate that Kenya is great and we must all learn to live with each other," Gachagua said.

Under the broad-based government, President Ruto appointed five of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM party into the Cabinet.

Those appointed include Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Opiyo Wandayi(Energy and Petroleum), John Mbadi(National Treasury), Wycliffe Oparanya(Cooperatives) and Beatrice Askul(East African Community).

The DP’s aggressive offensive in support of the broad-based government is seen as a move to fend off claims that he was opposed to the idea of coopting opposition figures into government.

This was after Gachagua claimed that Ruto would be held responsible if anything went wrong in government following the inclusion of ODM officials.

There were fears that the inclusion of Raila’s allies would further widen the alleged rift between Ruto and Gachagua.

During the president’s tour of the Gusii region, Kisii Governor Simba Arati warned Gachagua that ODM will continue working with the government even if he abandons Ruto.

Speaking in Kisii on Tuesday, Arati who had accompanied Ruto to the groundbreaking of the Kisii Cancer Centre construction urged Gachagua to stick with the President.

"Mheshimiwa Naibu wa Rais, Kaa pamoja na Rais. Lakini mkikoroga yeye ule upande mwingine sisi kama ODM tuko tayari kutembea na yeye," Arati said.

This loosely translates to, "Mr Deputy President, Stay with the President. But if you give him problems on the other side, we as ODM are ready to walk with him."

During the three-day tour of the Gusii region, the DP urged the region to unite and support the President, saying the formation of a broad-based government would spur development.

From Kisii, Gachagua flew to Eldoret where he joined the president in the reception of Kenyan athletes following their sterling performance in Paris, France.

On Thursday, the President also unveiled the City of Eldoret

During his speech, the Head of State reaffirmed that Eldoret had passed the criteria for an urban area to become a city. 

"Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the head of state under section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, I Kipchirchir William Samoei Ruto, president of Kenya and commander in chief of Kenya's Defence Forces do hereby ordain, declare and direct that the municipality of Eldoret has been conferred with city status," Ruto said.