Gachagua: I'm here to stay, my seat is not vacant

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has welcomed the broad-based government. [File. Standard]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the broad-based government was a welcome move but affirmed that he is not about to leave his seat.

Gachagua said those joining the Kenya Kwanza administration should respect those that they found and only seek to occupy seats that may be vacant.

The DP insisted that all is well in the broad-based Government and that they are focused on delivering for the people, his remarks coming against the backdrop of a section of his allies complaining that the DP has been sidelined under the new arrangement.

“Do not worry about those who have come, those are our brothers and we are working together, there is no problem. Nobody can tell us to move away. How do we move away yet this is our house and we are seated? If you find a vacant seat, sit on it but nobody should vacate the one that is already occupied, do you believe that I can leave my seat?” Gachagua posed.

He was speaking after attending the Sunday Service at ACK St Patrick’s Kayole, Nairobi.

“Everyone has their own seat, the President is on his own, I am on my seat, Musalia Mudavadi has his seat. If all of them are occupied you can stand and if tired, you are at liberty to leave. We are ok, and I assure the leaders there is no problem at all. We will work together,” the DP insisted.

He urged the leaders to align themselves with the people at all times so that they can be on the right footing, noting that time to tell lies to Kenyans are long gone.

During the service, several leaders including Benjamin Gathiru alias Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a Senator), Kamande Mwafrika (Roysambu), Edward Muriu (Gatanga), Mary Wamaua (Maragua) and former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru among others raised concerns over the manner in which Gachagua has been treated recently and also victimization of those allied to DP.

They particularly took a swipe at the National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah over what they termed as disrespecting Gachagua and the office that he holds.
This came as the DP urged investigating agencies to discharge their roles professionally and stop intimidating elected leaders.

Gachagua urged security officers, particularly from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to avoid allowing themselves to be used and take the country back to where it came from, where elected leaders were frequently harassed.

He was responding to complaints raised by Mejja Donk and Gakuya during the service, who stated that they have been harassed by the DCI, who are also holding their mobile phones.

“I would like to ask our security officers from the DCI, please do not take us back to where we came from. the use of criminal justice to manage politics made the fourth administration very unpopular. It does not make sense to harass Gakuya and Mejja Donk for no reason and because of politics, arresting them, confiscating their phone intimidating them, those are things of the past,” said Gachagua.

Gachagua urged the investigating agencies to be professional and to deal with crime in accordance with the law, adding all officers should have four sets of law to guide them namely the Constitution, Penal Code CAP 63, Criminal Procedure Code Cap 75 and the Evidence Act CAP 80.

“Officers were misused in the fourth administration to harass everybody. And by the way, for those harassing the two MPs should know that harassing elected leaders is counterproductive. It makes them very popular so when you think you are harassing them, you make them very popular instead,” Gachagua stated.

“Do not be misused to engage in politics just do your work. We have enough problems on crime in the city and elsewhere in the country. Deal with criminals who have committed crimes against Kenyans. Leave elected leaders alone to do their politics and that is the way it should be,” he added.

At the same time, the DP urged all leaders to ensure that they listen to the needs of the people, who put them in positions they are holding.

He said that he will not be disrupted by dissenting voices, which have a problem with the manner in which he conducts his politics and that he will continue uniting the people.
The DP stated that gone are the days when leaders could lie to the people for the sake of their selfish interests saying that Kenyans are intelligent and know what is happening around them.

“I want to encourage leaders in the country to please listen to the people. Many people have a problem with me because for a long time, some people in Government are not used to the truth and do not like me for saying the truth. And when I speak the truth they say I’m not speaking well. The time for lying to Kenyans is over, I align with Kenyans and will keep saying the truth if you do not like me for that, there is nothing I can do,” he affirmed.