By Anderson Ojwang
Nigerian Novelist and Poet, Chinua Achebe wrote in his book, Things Fall Apart “When the dry bones are mentioned the old feel uneasy.”
The Proverb aptly captures the situation the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua currently finds himself in.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati could have opened the pandora box over the Gachagua’s two years in the government where he overbore on the opposition leaders and regions that did not vote for President William Ruto.
Gachagua once an ardent supporter of Kenya Kwanza administration and the second most powerful person in the country, took least minute to humiliate, castigate and deride opposition leaders and regions that never supported them.
For the two years in the office, Gachagua tormented and humiliated those who criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration and was opposed to any form of demonstration in the country.
But after his impeachment, Gachagua has turned the ‘‘liberator” of Kenya from things and actions that he previously glorified and celebrated over.
Arati reminded Gachagua of his past as he plans to tour Kisii when he was the deputy President and how he undermined them.
“Gachagua is welcomed to Kisii, he is a leader just any other leader, yes, we know how he has caused some discord in this country which all of us have to look into.
But for today, I want to point that while he is coming to Kisii, he knows what he took us through in his two years in office.
We know the frustrations we got from Gachagua when he was the deputy to president Ruto.
Until his departure from office, he is one of the people who perpetrated especially in Kisii where himself, he pointed out in the functions we had at Mosocho, that until we had to behave, myself, he told me that until we behaved that was the only time we could get our security back, that was unbecoming.
But again, we say let security be provided to Gachagua given he was the former deputy president.
I do not want to antagonize other leaders from other part of the country, but we cannot bury our head in the sand because we know what we have gone through.
Even if one has turned to be an angel today, there is more, and we are going to shape the Kenya’s politics going forward.
As Kisii we are welcoming everyone to request for votes. Gachagua is welcomed to sell his agenda of one term because that is it.
If he sells for Ruto one term, he can as well sell for Simba one term and we see how it goes with the people,” he said.
Gachagua in his past speeches on demonstrations said Mt Kenya people were known as wealth creators and not destructive.
“This region nobody will be allowed to come to destroy property.
We, from Mt Kenya, we have never known the stupidity of killing people and destroying properties.
It has never happened in this region.
The people of Mt Kenya are progressive, businesspersons and farmers, they do not know about wealth destruction but wealth creation and protection.
Let me say now, let see how it will unfold.
No responsible government will allow such hooliganism witnessed in Nairobi.
You said, demonstrations is your right.
Is destruction of properties a right, what right are you fighting for?
That is why we told uhuru Kenyatta in his face.
We cannot elect that person.
We know him that he is the lord of violence and impunity in the republic of Kenya.
I told Uhuru Kenyatta this man is the problem of this country.
I am going to call a meeting for the leaders of mt Kenya region on how to deal with these characters now,” he said then.
After his impeachment, Gachagua said that he had been mandated by Mt Kenya people to look for a political formation that will bring power to the people.
“I was looking at it with few strategists from the region, Raila numbers is more exciting.
Because Raila already has 6.8 million votes.
We only beat him with only 200,000 votes.
If we agree to support him, we could, I told you with his 6.8 and our 6 million votes, if you look at his voting pattern, he normally votes between 10.00 am-11.00 am.
If we agree to support him.
Before he votes, he will be the president.
That you can take to the bank,” he said in a recent interview.
Raila in his response dismissed Gachagua overtures and instead asked his supporters to stop political activism and focus on the future to benefit from the unfolding political scenario.
“I want our people to remain quite so that we can get what we want going forward.
Those who are making noise in the opposition told us that they were in the government of shareholders.
They said they have shares; they told us that they have shareholding in the government.
Some have more shares while others have least.
Now that they have left the government after their fights.
They have come to us so for us to join them in order to make us president.
But they are forgetting that when they were in the government, they used to abuse us.
They did not know that we are a people who matter.
Now at this time, they are in a fix, they want us to join them.
They now say that they we want to give you presidency,” he said.
Two years ago, Gachagua hailed President Ruto for keeping side of his bargain after the election and appointing Mt Kenya to various positions.
“I want to thank President William Ruto because he is a gentleman.
Ruto and I did not sign any memorandum of understanding, I trusted him, and he trusted us.
I told him we will not have any MOU with you, you are a good person and a Christian, we will give you all the votes from Mt Kenya,” he said.
During the burial of his elder brother two years ago Gachagua said “On behalf of my family let me thank you with Mama Rachel, I really want to thank you.
You have been there for us. Anytime, we have been in tears in this family.
You always turn up with a handkerchief to wipe our tears.
We have no words to say thank you and the truth be said from our relationship, you have become one of our family.
We celebrate and cherish you. We don’t take that relationship for granted.
Last time you came for my mother’s burial I told you, this family of Gachagua we are honest, and people of integrity and we value friendship.
I told you if other Kenyans will betray you, that betrayal will not come from this family.
We don’t know betrayal.
We are people who are true to friends and that is why with my family made a conscious decision to stand with you in very difficult circumstances.
I gave very clear instructions to family that I must serve you with loyalty and dedication.
I was told by my family to give back to your support for this family and for your friendship.
I will do whatever you tell me to do.
The people of the country have high hope in your leadership.
I want to confirm before my family that I will not let you down and I will do whatever it takes, and I will be there for you to give you the necessary support.
The people of Mt Kenya, let me thank you, you have given our community respect in Kenya’s political landscape.
The people of the mountain are honest people and have integrity and appreciate good deed,” he said.
But after his impeachment, Gachagua has changed the tune and now claims Ruto has betrayed the mountain and has failed to deliver in his pledge to Kenyans.
“If you see MPs speak, just know Ruto has sent them.
I was with him.
He could write for me what to say.
He wrote for me what to say in various occasions and on the third occasion, I realized this man it was not right.
You remember how I used to speak and talk and then suddenly I changed.
You know he sits there, he has a pen and a paper, writes to you what to say.
I realized that the president was setting me up with Kenyans.
I want to promise you William Ruto you will not kick the people of Mt Kenya out of the government,” he said.
“We are planning, within a short time, we will reclaim back our pride and dignity as a people.
It is true what you are saying the mountain is angry.
It is not just angry it is very angry.
Why the mountain is very angry, because of betrayal.
Nobody can fool the people of the mountain twice, you fooled them once, they feel very sorry about it.
They actually feel very low and down.
I want to tell you, I heard some people complaining that I am forming a political alliance with Kalonzo Musyoka, why do you want to get involved in family affairs?
If someone has spoken to his cousin, is there any problem? You can also speak to your cousin.
You, Willam Ruto keep of family matters. Don’t get into our family affairs.
Let me ask, should cousins stay together or not?
Should the cousins walk together or not?”He asked.
