Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has promised to give President William Ruto space to work over the next three years, despite his quick impeachment last month.
Gachagua, while speaking in public for the first time since his fate was sealed in court, advised Ruto not to stop the progress made in the fight against illicit brews, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking at a funeral service in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua called on the Head of State to consider delegating the duty to his deputy, Kithure Kindiki to ensure no illicit alcohol was sold to Kenyans.
According to Gachagua, several residents from the Mt Kenya region recently approached him and lamented about the resurgence of the sale of illegal alcohol within the populous region.
"That is why I want to ask those who are currently in power about the work Rigathi Gachagua did in two years, fighting against illicit brew to save our children, even if you do not want me, let the work continue, to help our children, our sons were into alcohol and we did a lot of work to help them," Gachagua asserted.
"I have begun witnessing a revival in the menace, people came to me today morning telling me that since I was ejected out of power, people have begun taking illicit brew. I want to ask those who have to opportunity to help Kenyans to eliminate illicit alcohol," he added.
Gachagua further added that he was ready to grant President Ruto adequate space to fulfil the promises he made to Kenyans during the electioneering period. According to him, he was ready to welcome the president back to Mt Kenya despite reports of orchestrating his impeachment.
On the same note, the former Deputy President also took a jab at the Members of the National Assembly, advising them to rush the approval of the Coffee Bill that was tabled before parliament in 2023 in the same manner they pushed his impeachment.
"The speed they used to impeach me, let them use the same speed to pass the Coffee Bill. Let it be passed and be gazetted after presidential ascent. I want to urge Mt Kenya leaders who impeached me to use the same speed and efficiency to pass the Coffee Bill 2023 and Cooperative Bill 2023," Gachagua commented.
Gachagua also urged the lawmakers particularly those from the Mt Kenya region who pushed for his impeachment to apply the same effort and hasten the disbursement of the millions of money owed by the government to coffee farmers.
"The motivation you had to wake up early in the morning and at night to remove me from the office, fight for that money to get to Ksh7 million from Ksh5 million so that we can pay our coffee farmers," the former DP advised.
Gachagua's message to President Ruto and lawmakers comes hardly a day after Kithure Kindiki was sworn in as the new deputy president. Kindiki was sworn in at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in a colourful ceremony attended by high-profile guests including the President.
On the same day, Kindiki was sworn in, Gachagua took to his social media accounts where he shared a photo of him spending quality time with his family members.
