National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah for the first time on Tuesday, opened up on the genesis of his strained relationship with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM, Ichung'wah revealed that the unease in their relationship dates back to when Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua first began drumming up support for the One Man, One Shilling, One Vote campaign.
In Ichung'wah's view, the Deputy President had unfettered access to all senior government officials and could therefore express his views, reservations and opinions freely but failed to do so and instead went on a campaign to discredit the work the government was doing.
"We were told it is now time to have the one Man, One Vote, One Shilling. And you remember me asking, Under that executive order, number one, you have read, you've heard about intergovernmental relations work, chairing, IBEC chairing, cabinet subcommittees, something about the office of independent institutional commissions, being vested under the office of the Deputy President,"
"And I didn't ask then, first in person, second in public, why are we now using this microphone to speak about One Man, One Vote, One Shilling, yet we have all the levers to implement the things we are talking about. If you wanted a change in revenue sharing. Even begin from the cabinet subcommittee, process it through that, take it to cabinet," Ichung'wah revealed during the interview.
Ichung'wah also questioned why Gachagua has not consistently defended government policy on national TV, during which he reminded the audience that President William Ruto during his stint as deputy president would fiercely defend government position, regardless of political consequences.
The Majority Leader further gave insight into how Gachagua was selected as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) running mate and how politicians from the region prevailed upon him to change his character as it became increasingly apparent that he would come across as being to abrasive.
"Even the person himself would reflect upon himself and be more amiable in people to people skills because like the character of being too abrasive with people and other leaders and being vindictive. You know, that character that now has basically alienated many leaders and many people from you is something that you internalize that this is what people have said about me and act with grace now that you are holding high office and be a little bit more gracious and it did happen, "he further stated.
Ichung'wah and Gachagua have been at loggerheads with the latter accusing the former of scuttling Mt. Kenya unity. Meanwhile Ichung'wah has accused Gachagua of propagating tribal politics.
Ichung'wah has however remained defiant and even led 48 Mt. Kenya MPs who declared Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their direct link to the Executive, effectively denouncing Gachagua.
The MPs faulted Gachagua for alienating the Mt. Kenya region from the rest of the country through his style of politics.
Gachagua's allies from the Mt. Kenya region in the meantime have described Ichung'wah as a spoiler and loudmouth intent on scuttling Gachagua's political ambitions.
"There is someone with an agenda to divide Mt.Kenya. If you see a dog, someone must be holding the leash. This message is for the leash holder, Tie your puppets or forget about Mt.Kenya," Embakasi Central MP Mejja Donk stated during a roadside rally on Friday.
