Atwoli Hits Out at DP Gachagua, Calls for His Arrest
Central Organisation for Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Saturday took another dig at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua amid simmering political tensions in the country.
Speaking at an event in Uasin Gishu County, Atwoli called for the arrest of the deputy president following the latter’s recent remarks against President William Ruto.
In his speech, the workers’ union leader accused DP Gachagua of causing tribal divisions in the country through rallying his Mt. Kenya constituents as the second in command faces possible impeachment with a motion expected to be introduced at the National Assembly anytime next week.
“You prayed to God so that he can help you to run the government and then you start to contradict government policies and you sit in the cabinet and the National Security Council,” Atwoli said.
“You should be arrested, there is no country that can tolerate such a person, for the sake of securing the country,” he added.
President William Ruto with the COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli
The COTU Secretary General further criticised the second in command for what he claimed to be Gachagua hampering the country’s development by opposing government projects approved by the cabinet.
According to Atwoli, no person holds exclusive rights to the Mt Kenya region insisting that the bloc belongs to all Kenyans regardless of their ethnic group.
“This mountain called Mt Kenya belongs to all of us. We are all Kenyans, let no one brag about Mt Kenya, even Mt Kilimanjaro still belongs to the people of East Africa,” Atwoli alleged.
Atwoli’s fiery sentiments came hours after DP Gachagua dared President William Ruto to chart a different political path and move away from relying on Mt Kenya amid claims a section of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio MPs are planning to file an impeachment motion against Gachagua.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, Gachagua accused President Ruto of inciting lawmakers to impeach him against the will of the Kenyan people.
The deputy president claimed the lawmakers had no jurisdiction over his impeachment since he was elected by Kenyans.
“If Ruto is tired of Mt Kenya votes he should tell us, let him stop telling Members of Parliament to impeach me," DP Gachagua stated.
“I will not be intimidated. They are calling for my resignation, I will not allow it, I was given the job by the Kenyan people," he added.
Gachagua was on Saturday forced to temporarily halt his trip to Embu at Gituto along the Embu- Meru Highway to calm down residents demonstrating after a PP1 pupil from the region lost their life to a road accident on Friday.
The deputy president curious to understand what was going on, stopped his motorcade with traffic along the stretch having come to a standstill. The deputy president engaged the residents of Gituto- Difathas in Kirinyaga County and it was at this juncture that he learned they were picketing for justice to be served.
Gachagua subsequently took his time to calm down the residents, delaying his trip to Embu where he was expected to hold rallies and engage in a series of activities.
The DP while addressing the residents called on motorists and road users to exercise maximum while on the roads.
“I urge our road users to exercise maximum care while on our highways. Every human life is sacred.”
DP Rigathi Gachagua engaging with Gituto- Difathas residents in Kirinyaga County, 28 September 2024.
Gachagua joined the residents in mourning the death of the pupil identified as Elius Linus Mugendi. The second in command also sent his condolences to the family.
“I pass my sympathies to the parents of Elius Linus Mugendi, a PP1 Pupil at Difathas Primary School, Kirinyaga County, who passed on after being knocked by a speeding motorist yesterday.” wrote Gachagua.
The Deputy President was on his way to Moi Stadium, Embu where he joined Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji, and a host of other leaders for a series of activities including visiting differently-abled children at the Jomo Kenyatta Center for Children with Physical Disabilities.
The Deputy President also addressed a series of roadside rallies where he and his close allies continued with their recent script of attacking President William Ruto.
Earlier in Kirinyaga, Gachagua warned President William Ruto against instigating his ouster. The Deputy President accused Ruto of inciting parliamentarians to impeach him against the will of the people.
A section of Members of Parliament led by Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa, an ally of President William Ruto has alleged that the motion to impeach the DP has gained the support of more than 200 MPs.
Responding to the allegations by the MPs, Gachagua remained defiant, revealing that he will not be intimidated by mere threats.
“I will not be intimidated. They are calling for my resignation, I will not allow it, I was given the job by the Kenyan people," Gachagua said while in Mwea, Kirinyaga on Saturday.
