Omar: We're set to replace Gachagua as UDA number two

Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua woes are far from over. 

As he fights in court to defend his position, President William Ruto's party is ready to kick him out as the deputy party leader.

In a move that may reopen political wars in the Political Parties Tribunal, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar yesterday announced that they are only waiting for the court to conclude hearing of Gachagua’s petition against his impeachment.

According to Omar, the party constitution does not allow any other person other than the Deputy President to be its deputy party leader. He said Kindiki Kithure, Deputy President designate, would replace the out-of-favour Gachagua.

Speaking when he received former Elgeyo Marakwet ODM chairperson, Micah Kigen, to UDA, he castigated Gachagua for what he described as "toxic narrative of dividing Mt Kenya region community from other communities.”

“He wanted to take the region to the opposition using his 'social corruption’ gimmicks to bring hate and incitement’,” said Omar.

At the same time, Omar denied claims that the region had abandoned the President and the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“When the right time comes, the President will lay bare his scorecard for the people of Mt Kenya region and for the whole country to judge. In any case, the people of Mt Kenya should say no to Gachagua’s divisive agenda as he was seeking to isolate them from other communities,” he said.

Gachagua now awaits a fate similar to his ally, the former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala.

After his dramatic ouster, Malala claimed he was hounded out because of his relationship with Gachagua, saying plans to remove him were hatched after he opposed his impeachment.

“My ouster by the two officials had nothing to do with incompetence or my inability to run the UDA party, but was a well-choreographed script intended to climax with the impeachment of Gachagua,” he claimed.

He said Gachagua’s impeachment had nothing to do with Ruto, the so-called broad-based government or any other narrative the coup plotters have advanced.

Gachagua criticised the move, saying he was not consulted.

"Malala was kicked out at 5am from the ruling party. I was not called to that meeting that decided to remove him from his seat. This should not be happening because this is the ruling party," he said.

"Let us have some respect and decorum because such issues will just bring more battles in the country. We already have people battling against the Presidency, others from the Gen-Z, the Finance Bill, and now we want to bring battles into the party. Let us calm down."