By Anderson Ojwang
Kenya’s political space was thrown into a spanner-in-the-wheel moment by the weighty allegations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua against President William Ruto over various issues affecting the country.
The country was thrown into momentary reactions and counter-reactions to defend and launch an offensive charm to contain the damage of the allegations.
Deaths
Gachagua touched on three nerve-wracking deaths in the country: former Prime Minister the late Raila Amolo Odinga, former Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla, and Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno.
In his address, Gachagua demanded that Kenyans be told under what conditions the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga died in India.
Gachagua also wanted to know why the recommendations of Raila’s private doctor were ignored and why he was allegedly flown to India in a private jet.
“We want to know why there was no post-mortem conducted on Raila and why the burial was hurriedly undertaken against the culture and tradition of the Luo community,” he asked.
But ODM Minority Leader in the National Assembly, Junet Mohammed, dismissed Gachagua’s claims, terming them far-fetched.
Junet claimed that Gachagua was the one who plotted to assassinate Raila during the demonstrations and would arrive in his office in the morning to monitor Raila’s movements.
“Gachagua is the same man who said his disagreement with President William Ruto began when the President and Raila started engaging. The same man today wants to tell us about Raila,” he said.
CDF Ogolla
Gachagua also wanted President Ruto to explain the nature and circumstances under which CDF Ogolla died.
Junet said Gachagua was the same man who was opposed to the appointment of Ogolla as the CDF, claiming the deceased would have masterminded a coup against President Ruto.
“It is unfortunate that the same guy today has the audacity to tell Kenyans about General Ogolla. Shame has no name,” he said.
Gachagua also raised questions about the death of Ngeno and alleged possible sabotage through contaminated fuel transported from Lodwar, with which the ill-fated chopper could have been refuelled.
Inquest
Gachagua demanded the establishment of a public inquest into the deaths of the three leading Kenyans.
Minority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah accused Gachagua of being the ‘father’ of goons and having plotted the attack on the founding President the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s family farm in Ruiru.
“I have said this several times: that Gachagua was behind the goons who attacked Kenyatta’s farm in Ruiru. I sat with Gachagua in Harambee Annex when he plotted the attack. I challenge him to deny it,” he claimed.
Gachagua also claimed President Ruto had allegedly looted public coffers to become a dollar billionaire.
DCI reacts
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations also termed Gachagua’s allegations as baseless, ridiculous, and ill-intentioned.
“Those advancing the allegations should produce tangible evidence rather than peddle unverified claims calculated to undermine public confidence in law enforcement,” read the statement.
Wealth
During a press address on Tuesday, Gachagua claimed that President Ruto’s net worth, since taking office in 2022, has significantly shot up through what he termed as seeking sole control of key State assets.
The former Deputy President believes that President Ruto has created a one-stop shop for government institutions where he has been on a looting spree at the expense of the nation and its citizens.
“Over the last 4 years, William Ruto has captured the state. He has focused on centralising control of independent constitutional commissions, State entities, public sector procurement, and sale of strategic national assets. All these measures are aimed at achieving the objective of enriching himself at the expense of 55 million Kenyans,” he said.
“He has achieved the milestone of being certified as a US Dollar billionaire in a four-year record, courtesy of looting Kenyan public coffers.”
He claimed Ruto had reneged on the ambitious promises he made to Kenyans and has only achieved a loathsome scorecard marred with graft and impunity.
“This regime, on a borrowing spree, borrows an average of Ksh3.5 billion daily and steals Ksh3 billion daily. This government steals an average of Ksh125 million per hour, and Ksh2 million every minute from Kenyans,” he claimed.
“They promised to build 250,000 houses every year; however, four years later, Mr Ruto has fashioned this into a conduit to steal public land and be the sole supplier of construction materials.”
Failed projects
Gachagua faulted President Ruto for creating failed government development programmes like the Hustler Fund, Affordable Housing, and the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He added that his administration has failed in key sectors like education, health, and security, noting that his leadership has gone rogue and is rocked by incompetence.
On Tuesday, Gachagua’s gauntlet will definitely change the political terrain and trigger a cocktail of reactions and actions.
It is a spanner-in-the-wheel moment, and each side is likely to go bare-knuckle. It is just getting murkier.
