Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged leaders from the Mt. Kenya region to cease their criticisms of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Gachagua emphasized that he has engaged in discussions with these leaders to ensure Uhuru’s protection, emphasizing that despite their political differences in the 2022 election, Uhuru remains a respected figure from the same region.
“We have reached a consensus with all these leaders, and I have conveyed to them that Uhuru is part of us. While we were political rivals, the elections are now in the past. Our retired president deserves respect, and no one should subject him to harassment,” Gachagua stated during an interview with iNooro FM on Friday.
Gachagua also commended Uhuru for refraining from active involvement in politics, noting that, as an elder statesman, he should abstain from the theatrics of the political arena.
“We faced challenges when he re-entered politics, as we wanted him to exit the political stage with the dignity befitting his stature as a leader. For the past 4 to 6 months, he has conducted himself with the decorum expected of an elder and a respected figure. I urge all MPs to show him the respect he deserves,” Gachagua remarked.
Furthermore, DP Gachagua declared himself as the current de facto leader of the Mt. Kenya region, dismissing any perceptions of political divisions within the area.
“There is no division in the mountain. The mountain has a single leader, chosen and anointed by God—Rigathi Gachagua—and elected by 7.2 million Kenyans,” he asserted.
He also mentioned his efforts to unite the people of Mt. Kenya, expressing his intention to engage with everyone, including Uhuru, when the time is right.
“When the moment is conducive, and our spirits are calm, we will engage in discussions again, even with those in the opposition. We are not in conflict. I am working to unify our community,” he stated.