Kiambaa MP John Njuguna Kawanjiku has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for referring to him as part of a group of “weak and inferior” leaders from Mt Kenya.
Speaking at Parliament Buildings on Monday evening, the outspoken lawmaker accused Gachagua of engaging in politics of intimidation and coercion instead of uniting leaders from the region.
He reminded the former DP that he personally campaigned for him in Kiambaa, making his current criticism both hypocritical and disrespectful.
The MP questioned why Gachagua campaigned for him in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election.
“The people of Kiamba elected me knowingly I’m a son of a single mother and that’s not the only qualification that I had. All I was selling to the people of Kiambaa because I think it has become an issue now and you were there campaigning for me. So I wonder when you were campaigning for me what were you trying to insinuate at that particular time?” the legislator said.
The first-term MP went on to question Gachagua’s record during his tenure as Mathira MP between 2017 and 2022, saying he contributed little to national debate.
He further pointed out that the former DP lacked the moral standing to question any lawmaker’s record, claiming he never contributed as an MP.
“If you look at your track record, I don’t think you’re among the people who have the track record as far as the good leadership and the quality workmanship is concerned, because I wish it’s people like Peter Kenneth, Ndindi Nyoro, and Kimani Ichung’wah who are talking. I would really listen. But you, you are in Bunge in 2017 to 2022.
We were with you for the last one year when I was in the National Assembly. You never raised any statement. You never asked any question. You never contributed to any bill. So when you’re telling people that they should match the standard, which standard have you set yourself for people to follow?” Kawanjiku charged.
He warned that Gachagua’s attempts to intimidate and control elected leaders in the region were unacceptable.
Kawanjiku accused the DP of using threats, phone calls, and emissaries to push leaders into political submission.
“We will not sit down and watch you bullying us and I want to tell you because you have really intimidated me, even on phone calls, texts, because you have sent even some, you know, friends to come and talk to me,” he declared.
The MP reaffirmed his loyalty to President William Ruto, saying he supports the head of state voluntarily, not under coercion.
He added that his focus remains on serving his constituents until the end of his mandate at the 2027 General Election.
“I want to tell you I am following President William Ruto voluntarily. It’s not I’m not being coerced to follow the president because I have an agenda with the people of Kiamba.I know the reason why they elected me and I have that contract up to 2027 August and if you feel like you have another candidate who is better than me you can present him and the people of Kiamba will decide but you cannot force us to follow you,” he added.
Speaking at the Ngemi ya Watho festival hosted by the legal fraternity from the GEMA region in Thika, Gachagua lamented that leadership in the Mt Kenya region lacked equally strong and skilled political “foot soldiers.”
The ex-DP expressed admiration for the leadership of the late Raila Odinga, commending his political strategy and the enduring strength of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
