Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed the international community for promoting dialogue between the Kenya Kwanza administration and the opposition as a means of ending the ongoing anti-government protests.
Speaking in Isiolo County on Thursday, DP Gachagua stated that President William Ruto will not hold talks with opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom he blames for the violence, deaths, and property destruction witnessed during the protests, labelling the former premier a ‘criminal.’
“We want to ask church leaders and the international community…it is wrong to ask the President to sit down with a criminal,” said Gachagua during the issuance of title deeds at Etoro Ltungai Adjuction section.
“First of all umefanya watu wauwawe, umeharibu mali ya watu, alafu unaambia Rais kwa sababu umetoa fujo utulizwe. That has happened for a long time and the consequences have been that for a long time kazi imesimama.”
Gachagua also questioned why high-ranking members of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition were absent from this week’s protests, implying that the opposition leaders are now fleeing a sinking ship.
“Ile kitu ya kustaabisha Wakenya ni kuwa hawa watu saa ile waliona kimeumana hakuna alikanyanga town. Mmoja alijificha Nairobi Hospital akasema akuwe admitted, awekwe tu maji kwa sababu si mgonjwa ndio asiende maandamano,” said the DP.
“Mwingine akakaa kwa nyumba yake alafu wanatuma watoto wa wenyewe wakauwawe, why can’t they come themselves ama watume watoto wao? Jana (Raila) ameona imeanguka anatoa taarifa akiwa amejificha kusema ati maandamano imefaulu ati isimamishwe na ni vile ameona hakuna kitu inaendelea.”
He also urged Raila to wait until the 2027 General Election to stake his claim to the presidency rather than allegedly attempting to destabilise the Kenya Kwanza government.
“For too long, that Mzee wa maandamano ametumia fujo to blackmail Kenyans and find his way into leadership. We want to tell Mzee Maandamano there are no short-cuts to leadership; the only route is one…the ballot,” said Gachagua.
“Hakuna njia ingine; kwa hivyo Rais ukae kidete huyu Mzee angoje 2027, haiko mbali sana, he can wait. Lakini kutoa fujo ati ndio aingizwe serikali, Wakenya wanakataa.”
