During the burial of Moses Wetang’ula’s mother on Friday, January 3, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of orchestrating abductions to undermine President William Ruto. Ichung’wah’s remarks come in the wake of Gachagua’s criticism of Ruto’s handling of the abduction crisis.

Ichung’wah also directed sharp criticism at Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, who attended the burial, accusing him of failing to use his former role as Police Regional Commander to expose those behind the abductions.

“Gachagua is behind these abductions, attempting to shift blame onto President Ruto. And shame on you, Governor Natembeya. You decry abductions, yet you were complicit in such atrocities during the previous administration,” Ichung’wah declared.

Natembeya faced backlash at the event, with mourners openly expressing their disapproval. While calling for an end to abductions, he stated, “We want the abductions to stop. The youth must avoid negative rhetoric on social media, but no one should face death or disappearances because of it.”

Ichung’wah further accused Natembeya of inciting ethnic divisions among communities in Western Kenya, drawing parallels to Gachagua’s alleged divisive politics. He warned that attempts to instill fear and division would ultimately fail.

“The divisive politics you promote won’t succeed. Just like Gachagua, who fosters ethnic discord, you won’t prevail with your tactics,” Ichung’wah said, adding that the governor was responsible for past incidents like the River Yala killings and Mau Forest evictions.

“You were the Regional Commissioner when bodies were dumped in River Yala. Those murders and abductions happened under your watch. Shame on you,” Ichung’wah accused.

Meanwhile, Gachagua has continued to demand swift government action to address the rise in abductions, including the unresolved disappearance of six youths during the Christmas holidays, leaving families in anguish.