Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has maintained his plea to former president Uhuru Kenyatta whom he now wants to make peace with after the heated 2022 political campaigns.
Speaking during a roadside rally on Friday, May 31, the deputy president admitted that he and his ilk in Mt Kenya blundered by launching a fierce onslaught against Uhuru while pledging their allegiance to President William Ruto.
He suggested that people, whom he did not mention, misled the Mt Kenya electorate to dissent from Uhuru.
Gachagua offered to seek forgiveness from the former head of state on behalf of the region.
“Never again should we go against our kingpin, our own son. We were misled, we attacked and shouted down President Uhuru Kenyatta. I asked for forgiveness, did you forgive me? Never again will we attack our leader,” affirmed Gachagua.
He seemed to be troubled that it was only in Mt Kenya where discord was being sown, calling on his fellow natives to embrace and tolerate each other.
“Let us love each other. Other communities do not fight or hate one another. But there is always war here in our mountain. There is no day we will ever come against our kingpin like that. Tell our young people not to accept to be used to fight our Kingpin,” he stated.
The deputy president’s pronouncement came against the backdrop of the infighting in the ruling UDA party where rifts have been evident in the recent past.
A section of ranking party members ganged up against Gachagua who seems to retreat to his backyard for support.
For a time, the deputy president has been calling for the Mt Kenya unity, his efforts to rally the populous region behind him getting frustrated by leaders in the Kenya Kwanza faction.
In his clarion call, Gachagua has constantly argued that Uhuru would be instrumental in uniting the region ahead of its oncoming political manoeuvres.
Besides Uhuru, Gachagua extended an olive branch to other Azimio leaders, Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua and Jubilee Party’s Jeremiah Kioni included.
Despite the deputy president’s appeals to Uhuru, the former president has stayed mum and clear of politics, choosing to undertake his regional roles as elections observe and mediator in the Eastern DRC conflicts.
Gachagua in on record fiercely taking on Uhuru whom he accused of persecution before the 2022 elections.
Further, the deputy president accused Uhuru of mismanaging the country and denting the economy to dilapidation.
