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The Nairobian

Ichung'wah, Meru MPs dismiss Gachagua's Mt Kenya unity call

Politics

By Phares Mutembei and Boniface Gikandi | Sep 10, 2024

**National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah.** [File, Standard]

Several MPs have criticised Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s unity campaign in the Mt Kenya region.

National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah led a team of MPs from Meru County in pouring cold water on Gachagua’s call for unity of the region, saying his call is driven by his interests and not those of the people.

Speaking in Tigania West, Ichung’wah said the unity campaign was a plot to drive a wedge between President William Ruto and the people of the region.

He dismissed Gachagua’s move to reach out to Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and other opposition leaders. “In the two years we have not seen you launching even a single development project. But you are telling us to unite to intimidate the President. We have given you the permission to go and make friends and plan a government for another year,” he said.

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The Kikuyu MP said they want to see the government deliver development projects and have no time for alliances based on political interests.

“We should not be dragged into selfish politics. We should first deliver on the pledges we made to Kenyans,” he said.

Ichung’wah accused the DP of failing to improve the prices of agricultural products. “When we are agitating for better coffee prices and support for milk production someone is telling us about 2027 elections and to blackmail the President,” he said.

Ichung’wah said they want to ensure cattle rustling in northern Meru is eradicated as pledged during election campaigns. He said he had spoken to Interior CS Kithure Kindiki who, he said, promised to work with MPs to end banditry in the county.

Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said the Mt Kenya region had gained the trust of other regions after it voted for Ruto in the last election. “If we voted for Ruto, who is not even our cousin, can we be divided?” he posed.

Tigania East MP Mpuri Aburi said all Kenyans should unite, their ethnicity notwithstanding. “What we do not want to see is tribalism in any form. If you are Kikuyu, Maasai, Luhya or Kalenjin we should be one people,” he said.

MP John Mutunga (Tigania West) said they were firmly behind Ruto and will support his re-election.

Igembe South’s John Paul Mwirigi said disunity among leaders is a threat to development. “We are not with those who have started to stall our ship. We are with President Ruto,” he said.

But elsewhere, more leaders came to Gachagua’s defence, accusing Ichung’wah of undermining the DP.

Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and his Kirinyaga counterpart Jane Njeri said Ichugwah was trying to water down efforts by Gachagua to revive the tea and coffee sub-sectors.

Speaking at Ichichi ACK Church in his Kangema backyard, Kihungi cautioned politicians against meddling in affairs of tea and coffee farming.

“Ichung’wah is misleading the public when a lot of efforts have been done to revive the two cash crops,” said Kihungi. He added: “Claims that the Deputy President was colluding with tea and coffee brokers to exploit farmers are a high level of disrespect,” he said.

In Kirinyaga, MP Njeri said leaders in the Mt Kenya region should stop fighting Gachagua. She criticised Ichung’wah for what she said were unwarranted attacks on the DP. “In other regions, leaders defend their senior most politicians. But in this region, they are attacking their own,” said the Kirinyaga MP.