By Anderson Ojwang
Last Thursday’s Gen Z anniversary opened Kenyans to the debate on whether former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is an opportunist and a coward altogether.
The self-proclaimed grandchild of Mau Mau, truthful man, and Mt Kenya leader failed to show up during the anniversary, claiming a plot to assassinate him.
But despite the claims, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Siaya Governor James Orengo, former Chief Justice David Maraga, and opposition leader Martha Karua braved and joined the Gen Z at the anniversary.
For Gachagua, still on his 45-day conclave, he stayed at Wamunyoro, looking forward to either white or black smoke at the elapse of the political conclave.
Ahead of Thursday’s anniversary, Gachagua claimed there was a plot to assassinate him and instead remained locked in his Wamunyoro home.
“Since I was targeted for assassination then by this killer squad in church, I am apprehensive; probably Mr. Kipchumba Murkomen and DIG Lagat have instructed them to proceed to Wamunyoro and complete the job they failed to do in January. In whatever situation, God is in control,” he wrote.
Interestingly, a hard-hitting and biting Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen yesterday labelled Gachagua as a coward and opportunist.
“Gachagua wants to take credit for everything in the world. If he sees anything succeed, he takes credit,” he said.
Murkomen said the reason why Gachagua fears him is because he understands and knows him better and how to deal with him.
Locked up
Murkomen said the government foiled Gachagua’s plot to use goons to cause chaos in the country and subsequently locked his way out from Wamunyoro home.
“This Gachagua, we are tired. It is enough. Recently, he was organising goons in Kayole, Eastlands, and Thika Road. Because I know Gachagua, we locked him, and he stayed at his Wamunyoro home. He knows the truth,” he said.
The CS said the government was prepared and ready to arrest Gachagua over the use of goons to cause chaos.
“The statement he was making, that assassination, he knew officers were monitoring him about the goons he was organising, and we would have arrested him if he had come out of his house. That day, the DCI and police arrested all the criminals, more than 300, and after the arrest, he was deflated and could do nothing. Then he comes to say, ‘I told people not to go to the demos,'” he said.
But Gachagua claimed he had credible information from patriotic police officers who tipped him off about the plans by Mr Murkomen to use goons to harm Kenyans and destroy property.
“I plead with the people of Kenya to stay alive, stay safe, and register as voters, for we all have a date with destiny to liberate our country on 10th August next year. We shall liberate our country through the mechanism provided for by our Constitution: the ballot. Whenever they plan violence against innocent Kenyans, we must keep away and call them out. I sincerely thank my dear sons and daughters, the Gen Zs, for heeding my plea to avoid death and injury. They had planned to harm you in a big magnitude today,” he wrote.
Gachagua a coward?
Murkomen claimed that Gachagua was a coward who hides under the bed when others are out protesting.
“I know Gachagua is the father of violence in our country. I know he is a coward. That is why I know how to deal with him. Have you ever seen Gachagua go to any demos? Have you seen him in any protests? He sits back and sends people’s children. Ask him to try to come to the streets,” he said.
But Gachagua said his move was a tactical strategy to forestall deaths and destruction of properties.
“To the Gen Zs, please know that tactical retreat is not surrender but strategy. Let them know that caution is not cowardice but wisdom. I am humbled that Kenyans trusted my judgement, believed I am a truthful and honest man, and that I do care for their welfare and that I value human life and human dignity,” he wrote.
A pretender
The CS labelled Gachagua as a false pretender to the throne, who claimed to have taken over the leadership from the late Raila Odinga while he hides in his bedroom when others were on the streets.
“He is pretending that he has taken over and he is like Tinga, the late Raila Amolo Odinga. You cannot be Tinga,” he said.
Murkomen said Gachagua was not comparable to Raila, who at 80 braved teargas while the former DP hid in his home.
“Tinga at 80 years was on the forefront leading despite being teargassed. You have not left your house. You went to hide under the bed, and you ask your wife, Mama Dorcas, to look outside if it is safe. What kind of a man are you?” he said.
Gachagua thanked Kenyans for remaining peaceful and promised President William Ruto a date at the ballot.
“Many thanks to the millions of Kenyans for heeding my request to stay at home to avoid death and injury. Thank you, parents, for accepting my request to keep your children out of harm’s way. To the professional police officers who acted with restraint and refrained from shooting the protesters whose pain was too much to bear and showed up on our streets, towns, and cities to express themselves,” he wrote.
King of Mt Kenya
Gachagua, after his impeachment, retreated to Mt Kenya, declared himself the leader of the Murima, and formed his DCP party. In Mt Kenya, a section of leaders have accused him of self-imposition and being an opportunist.
The question, therefore: will “mtu wa mtego” one day lead the protests amid fumes of teargas, or will he command from the confines of Wamunyoro?
Is he an opportunist who is at the right place and at the right time?
