Bunge La Mwananchi President and Azimio diehard Calvin Okoth popularly known as Gaucho announced on Wednesday, June 7, that he was ready to meet with President William Ruto to discuss the welfare of poor youth.
In an interview, Gaucho denied being a member of the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, despite actively participating in demonstrations and protests organised by the coalition’s leader, Raila Odinga. Gaucho also distanced himself from the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, claiming to be the leader of the vulnerable and young people.
According to the outspoken youth, he worked with the Raila-led coalition because he believed the two shared the same vision for Kenyans, but he never formally joined the coalition.
“When he (President Ruto) calls me, I will meet him because the Azimio leader is Raila Odinga. I am just the ghetto president and I represent the people living in the slums. I am neither in Kenya Kwanza nor Azimio,” he stated.
Gaucho added that Ruto had to meet certain conditions before agreeing to meet with him, having learned firsthand from leaders who ruined their professional lives by warming up to politicians.
He insisted that the meeting be made public in order to avoid controversies and demanded a promise from the Head of State that he will not be used as a political ploy.
“As long as he does not use the meeting for publicity like he has done with other politicians in the past, I will have no problem.
“If he calls me, it should be something very open to the public because the people he surrounds himself with are very controversial,” he explained.
The youth leader stated that he had some difficult questions for the president about the welfare of the youth, such as employment and taxation.
He would be able to do so, however, only if the president allowed him to criticise his decisions rather than luring him to support the government.
“He should give me room to criticise his work and not ask me to support him politically. I want to know why our people in the slums are still suffering and why the youth are not employed,” he stated.
Gaucho also stated that he disagreed with Azimio’s decision to reject the proposed Finance Bill 2023, stating that it was critical for Parliament to pass it as a lesson to Kenyans ahead of the next election.
According to him, the only way Kenyans will learn is if they face the harsh consequences of their electoral choices.
“Azimio leaders are against the bill but I support it fully. When Kenyans suffer as a result of the bill, they will learn not to make the same mistake next time during elections.
“Kenyans accepted Ruto because he was a man of God and a prophet. Why would they reject his ideas now? Why would we reject a prophet?” he ridiculed.
