Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has maintained his stance that those who overwhelmingly voted for the Kenya Kwanza regime should benefit immensely from the government.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service in Kapsabet, in Nandi County, Gachagua said he is unapologetic over his remarks adding that those who believed in Ruto have every right to benefit immensely from his government.
He was responding to reports from the local leadership that they had not yet benefited especially in matters of the road network, saying he had heard their cries as he is the ‘custodian of your shares’.
He went on to add that he has no problem if his remarks rubbed some people in the wrong way.
Gachagua has been under sharp criticism from Kenyans and a section of leaders over his ‘shareholders’ remarks.
“I have no apologies; I am unapologetic to demand and to insist that those who believed in William Ruto and supported him as a man have every right to benefit immensely from his government. I have no apology, at all, and if that can bring a problem so be it,” Gachagua said.
He said that for five years, the people in the region had suffered for supporting Ruto when he was the Deputy President, something he said, had cost them development projects.
“You suffered for five years kwa sababu ya kumuunga mkono William Ruto mkono akiwa Deputy President, mkatengwa, maendeleo ikapelekwa mahali hawakupiga kura mkiangalia tu mkiona ikipita, sasa you need affirmative action to catch up and we are not apologetic to anybody, absolutely t all,” Gachagua said.
This is translated to mean ‘For five years you were isolated and would watch areas that did not vote benefit from development projects, you would watch them with your eyes as they would be taken to other areas’.
His sentiments come just a day after Ruto assured people from the Nyanza region that they would get development projects despite how they voted in the August 2022 elections.
Speaking in Siaya on Friday, Ruto cautioned Nyanza people against being duped that they will be sidelined in development because of not voting for the Kenya Kwanza regime.
"Watu wa Nyanza, mtu asiwaambie mko nje ya serikali (Nyanza people don't be told you are not part of government) because this government is for all Kenyans and you all pay taxes. I will ensure that no region will be sidelined on matters of development at the expense of politics," he said.
"It is primitive and backward for anybody or anyone to imagine that any region of Kenya cannot get development on account of how they voted. That is not right, not correct," Ruto added.
The Head of State further assured Kenyans that moving forward, all leaders will unite together to bring development to the citizens.