Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said on Sunday, July 12, that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has three major fears.
In a statement, Kuria claimed that Gachagua fears the rise of any alternative political leader from the Mt Kenya region. He also said Gachagua fears younger leaders who could challenge his influence, as well as politicians emerging from Murang’a County.
Kuria said, “There are 3 things Rigathi Gachagua fears more than the devil: any alternative leader from the Mt Kenya region, any leader who is younger than him, and any emerging leader from Muranga County.”
He added that he based his argument on the idea that Kiambu and Nyeri have already produced presidents.
Kuria also welcomed the Linda Mwananchi movement to Nyahururu and pledged support to Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata. He said he spoke with Kang’ata by phone and called for the protection of Kenya’s democratic space.
“I fully welcome Linda Mwananchi to Nyahururu today. I have called my brother Governor Kangata to express solidarity. We must guard and protect our democratic space and avoid monolithic dictatorship,” Kuria said.
The remarks came days after Gachagua told Kang’ata to stay away from Ol Kalou ahead of the Thursday, July 16 by-election.
On Friday, July 10, Gachagua said he received information that Kang’ata intended to travel to Ol Kalou with the Linda Mwananchi team. He said the DCP did not want the governor at the event.
“I want to tell Irungu Kang’ata: I have heard that you are coming to Ol Kalou with Linda Mwananchi. We, as DCP, do not need you there,” Gachagua said.
On Saturday, the Linda Mwananchi team announced it canceled its planned rally in Ol Kalou and instead planned to gather in Nyahururu Town.
The movement claimed it learned of an alleged plan by the administration to provoke violence in Ol Kalou so officials could delay the vote. It said, “Police squads without uniform and goons have been mobilized from parts of Kiambu, Muranga and Nakuru, and deployed to attack the Linda Mwananchi convoy along the trail during their tour of Ol Kalou.”
It added that it expected the authorities to use the movement’s acts of self-defense against violent attacks as a reason to declare a state of siege, which would then postpone the by-election.
