Omtatah questions Gachagua's focus on 'murima' politics

Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah has criticised Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for focusing on a single region while neglecting others.

During a KTN interview on Wednesday, September 25, Omtatah questioned the divisive nature of regional politics and its implications for national unity.

He said Gachagua’s focus on “watu wa murima” (people from the mountain) raises concerns about the exclusion of other regions, including communities living across the country.

 The Senator noted that such politics could lead to unnecessary divisions.

“When you talk of people from Kakamega, does that include Luhyas in Mombasa?” asked Omtatah, adding that national leaders should work for all citizens, regardless of their regional identity.

Omtatah explained that isolating regions undermines the country’s unity.

 “This is the kind of politics that is not good and is dividing this country; it’s not solving a problem,” he said.

Omtatah was speaking alongside Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, who has filed a censure motion against Gachagua.

Mungatana said the Deputy President’s actions violated his constitutional obligation to serve the country.

“We seek to censure the conduct of the Deputy President for not fulfilling the constitutional oath of office, which requires serving the entire country,” noted Mungatana.

Mungatana clarified that the censure motion addresses Gachagua’s neglect of other regions, calling for the Deputy President to return to his constitutional duties.

“Since we can't have a Deputy President everywhere, it is necessary to bring him back in line,” he said.

Mungatana also acknowledged discussions about an impeachment motion but noted that it is separate from the censure motion.

He explained that impeachment carries legal consequences, including barring individuals from holding office in the future.

Gachagua recently expressed frustrations with his role in government, claiming during an interview on a local TV station that some MPs were bribed to push for his impeachment.

He also alleged that he had been excluded from President William Ruto’s inner circle and denied the president’s diary access.