South Rift leaders vow to thwart scheme to frustrate Gachagua

**Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua** **at Our Lady of Visitation Timau Catholic Parish in Buuri Constituency, Meru County, when he attended Holy Mass on June 2, 2024.** [DPCS]

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's allies in the South Rift region have vowed to thwart an alleged scheme by some United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders to frustrate him.

Speaking in Sereng, Kipkelion West constituency, Emurua-Dikir MP Johana Ng'eno condemned the sustained attacks against Gachagua by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.

He claimed that this is part of a broader strategy to remove Gachagua from his position in succession politics.

"Shockingly, some politicians have hatched a plan to frustrate Gachagua into resigning from office to make room for the appointment of another Deputy President in the 2027 General Election," Ng'eno claimed.

The lawmaker, who was accompanied by Kericho County Assembly Majority Leader Phillip Rono and Kapsoit MCA Paul Chirchir declared that they would not allow the scheme to frustrate the DP to succeed.

"There are some young politicians who want to play around with leadership while President William Ruto is still striving to put the government on a solid foundation. We will not allow anyone to drive a wedge between the President and his Deputy," he said.

He called on leaders to shun political sideshows and focus on governance.

“Even if some people have their eyes on 2027 and subsequent elections, we don't want the President and his deputy to be sidetracked by political greenhorns. Whoever doesn't respect the Deputy President doesn't respect the President," said Ngeno.

The legislator criticized certain Rift Valley leaders for politicking at the expense of development.

"In Kericho for example, the government is yet to launch the construction of the much-talked-about Londiani Referral Hospital. Kerenga airstrip is literally a mud patch and the standard gauge railway is still a dream, among other projects," he said.

Ng'eno took issue with Sudi for admitting that he does not attend parliamentary sessions, reminding him and his supporters that the President and his deputy are one entity.

"The argument that they don't have a problem with the President but with his Deputy doesn't make sense. If you don't respect the Deputy President, you don't have respect for the President. We want respect for Cabinet Secretaries and other government officers," he stated.

He advised Gachagua's critics to wait until the 2027 General Election if they are determined to challenge him for the DP position. He dismissed reports suggesting that Gachagua was considering forming another political party.

Kapsoit Ward Member of County Assembly Paul Chirchir underscored the significant role the DP played in securing UDA's victory in the Mt Kenya region.

"The chunk of the Mt Kenya bloc that the DP brought contributed a lot to the UDA win, which made Ruto the President and Gachagua Deputy President. He cannot be wished away," he said.

Kericho Assembly Majority Leader assured the DP of support in the Rift Valley despite the row in UDA.

"We want the unity between the President and his deputy to hold so that the region can remain the top priority in service delivery from the UDA government," he said.