Leaders from the South Rift region led by Emurua Dikkir MP Johanna Ng'eno on Monday, June 3, called out leaders pressuring Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to resign from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
The leaders argued that DP Rigathi should be accorded respect since he is part of President William Ruto's administration.
"I also have a problem with some of the cabinet secretaries but I do not disrespect them because they are part of Ruto's government and I respect him (Ruto)," Ng'eno remarked.
Ng'eno reiterated that disrespecting the DP was equivalent to disrespecting President Ruto. He therefore urged all those making disrespectful remarks aimed at the Second in Command to stop.
He added that any leader who had a problem with DP Rigathi should hold a meeting with him to iron the issues out instead of publicising every inconvenience.
Additionally, other leaders who echoed Ng'eno's words argued that President William Ruto won the election and took over power with the help of Gachagua.
The lawmakers emphasised that residents from Mt Kenya came out in large numbers to support Ruto and Gachagua in the 2022 General Elections.
"If it were not for the residents of Mt Kenya, Ruto would not have gotten 51 per cent of the required votes. They woke up early to vote," the leader added.
Another leader issued a warning to all those threatening and pressuring the Deputy President adding, "Your days are numbered and they are over."
He assured Gachagua that he had the support of the residents from the region. The leaders were confident that Gachagua would take over after Ruto.
This new attack came as tensions in the ruling party continued to rise. Last month, reports by Nation indicated that Gachagua was looking for a new political party.
The DP, however, dismissed the allegations and demanded an apology from the media house arguing that the article was written in bad faith.
"To associate His Excellency the Deputy President with another political party, especially one with questionable association can only have been done in bad faith, with the sole intention of undermining His Excellency's role as the Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party," read a letter from the DP.
