By Anderson Ojwang
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa has described former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua as the latter heads to the constituency for a political engagement.
Ichung’wa, the Assembly Majority Leader and President William Ruto’s blue-eyed boy in Mt Kenya, will today, this Saturday, play host to a strange visitor, a political foe.
Kikuyu constituency will act as the battleground for a superiority contest between Ichung’wa and the self-declared king of the mountain, Gachagua.
Both leaders are breathing fire and ready for a showdown, with Gachagua warning Ichung’wa that tomorrow (today) he will be in Kikuyu.
“Tomorrow we will be in Kikuyu. Kasongo has allegedly given Ichung’wa money to cause chaos. We will not be cowed,” he vowed.
Gachagua picked a tirade with Ichung’wa from Nyandarua during the burial of the Ol Kalou MP, where he accused the Majority Leader of misleading the president and being responsible for the fallout.
He first wrote to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, alleging planned disruption of his rally in Kikuyu town by goons.
But Ichung’wa did not take it lying down either; he also wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Kanja, over what he termed as violent campaigns by Gachagua.
“The people of Kikuyu deserve adequate police protection. You should therefore ensure sufficient security presence to protect residents, their property, and businesses, and not fall into Gachagua’s trap of choreographed violence and destruction,” he wrote.
He accused the former DP of profiling security officers in the area and said his remarks were meant to cause chaos.
Separately in an interview, he referred to Gachagua as a bully who wants his way in everything, noting that the outburst of the outspoken Democracy for Citizens leader during the burial of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho shows that he is not fit for leadership.
“Gachagua is just a bully who believes he can bludgeon everyone into submission. He, however, knows my steel and imagines that if he manages to cow me, being the senior most MP from Mt. Kenya region and with a strong development record and a strong constituency support base, all the others will cower and follow him,” said Ichung’wa.
Ichung’wa said Gachagua’s hope is that if he succeeds in his intimidations, he would then have the numbers to further intimidate and blackmail President William Ruto.
“This is characteristic of his blackmailing tendencies, the same blackmail that ejected him from office,” added Ichung’wa.
Of all the leaders supporting Ruto’s reelection, it is Ichung’wa who seems to be irking Gachagua the most.
On Wednesday, Gachagua berated Ichung’wa as Ruto watched during the tense moment at the requiem mass of the late Ol Kalou MP. The enraged Gachagua spoke directly and without hesitation.
He reminded the president of past advice and blamed some of his current allies for political troubles in the Mt. Kenya region. He singled out Ichung’wa in remarks that quickly shifted the mood from mourning to open political contest.
“Nilikuambia kabla hatujakosana. Nilikuambia. Nikakuambia hawa vijana unatembea na hawa, watakuweka kwa shimo. Hawa kina Ichung’wa nilikuambia watakuweka kwa shimo,” Gachagua said.
He stood a few metres from Ruto as he spoke, marking their first time on the same platform since his exit from office. Gachagua went further and warned the president about the political cost of ignoring his earlier advice.
“Mimi nilikushauri rais nikakuambia hawa watu wa mlima hawapendi usaliti. I told you that betrayal is not forgiven among our people. You chose to listen to Kimani Ichung’wa. Sasa hii jamii imekukataa,” he added.
“Sasa huyu Ichung’wa alikuambia Riggy G atasahaulika baada ya wiki mbili, sasa ni miaka ngapi? Mr President, nakuomba ndugu yangu, you are my brother, tafadhali, tafuta amani na hii jamii. Tafuta amani na hii jamii. Usiskize hawa watoto.”
Ichung’wa in turn on Wednesday in Parliament led MPs in condemning Gachagua over his remarks, with legislators now calling for tougher laws against politicians who spread hate, especially during funerals.
“What I heard yesterday was outright tribal bigotry, someone pretending to speak on behalf of the President,” Ichung’wa stated.
Ichung’wa downplayed concerns over Gachagua’s planned visit to Kikuyu, saying all leaders are welcome, but warning against incitement.
“He says he’s coming to Kikuyu this Saturday, and we welcome everyone. What we reject is ferrying goons to loot businesses,” he noted.
Speaking in Laikipia, Gachagua stood by his remarks, insisting they were justified. He, however, expressed doubt that his complaints against Ichung’wa would be acted upon by the President.
“I lodged a complaint against Ichung’wa yesterday, but it felt pointless. I later asked myself, was I wasting my time?” Gachagua posed.
The battle of the mountain is shaping up as Gachagua versus Ichung’wa, with the latter playing the lead role in campaigning for President Ruto.
