Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says part of the reasons why he delayed the launch of his new political vehicle was to allow time for the reconstitution of the Electoral Commission, IEBC.
Gachagua said while consultations were complete by the time he made the announcement to unveil the party in February, it was the collective decision of the members and stakeholders to postpone the unveiling until May.
According to Gachagua, many Senators and Members of the National Assembly from his Mt Kenya region are ready to resign from the UDA party and go for by-elections on the new party.
“Our new political party is ready. For strategic reasons I did not want to unveil it before May,” he said during a TV interview Monday night.
“The whole mountain has moved from UDA. UDA was Riggy at the mountain, without Riggy G at the mountain there is no party there,” he confidently claimed.
He assured the leaders from his backyard who agree to quit UDA for his new party that they would be reelected.
“Any leader who makes that brave decision, because that is being courageous, will be reelected without a doubt, with serious majority. They will be heroes of our people and their politics will be rosy for decades to come,” he said.
Gachagua added that consultations are ongoing ahead of the anticipated launch and that they have put in place necessary structures including naming the interim officials.
Without revealing the names, he disclosed that the party has an interim national chairman from Kajiado, a national organising secretary from Machakos, a deputy party leader from Kakamega and an interim assistant national treasurer from Migori.
“Ours is a serious national party but it is the home of the mountain and that brings in serious numbers which is good for the party,” he stated.
He stated that apart from Mt Kenya where he commands a huge following, they also have support in Kajiado, Narok, Samburu, Kisii and other counties in the Western region.
Gachagua also took issue with the move to replace the leaders from his region who held leadership positions in parliament terming it a plan to undermine Mt Kenya’s political influence.
A section of leaders who have shifted allegiance from President William Ruto to Gachagua's camp include Senators John Methu (Nyandarua), Karungo Thang'wa (Kiambu), James Murango (Kirinyaga) and, Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) and Lenku Seki (Kajiado).
MPs include Mukurweini's John Kaguchia, James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri) and Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina among others.
