Former Kiambu Governor, William Gitau Kabogo, has accused Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate, Rigathi Gachagua, of being a bully in the political faction that is led by Deputy President William Ruto.
Speaking at a rally on Thursday, June 16, Kabogo alleged that Gachagua is behind the woes in Kenya Kwanza alliance and especially in Kiambu county. He accused the lawmaker of fronting only United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Kimani Wamatangi during the engagement in the county.
Kabogo argued that the sibling rivalry in Mt Kenya stems from the region's kingship position. The Tujibebe Party leader explained that he is the de facto Mt Kenya leader which Mathira Member of Parliament has been opposed to.
The former Kiambu county boss further told the electorates that he warned Deputy President William Ruto against picking Gachagua, referring to him as a dictator.
"William Ruto and his UDA party want to swallow all the other parties. But I have refused to be swallowed. They way they treated me and Ferdinand Waititu is the same way they want to do it now. They want us to support Wamatangi.
"After Ruto picked Rigathi Gachagua, whom I had opposed, is when the issue between UDA and other parties started emerging. That man is a dictator and my mistake is only speaking the truth because I told William Ruto he will lose many votes for picking this man. Just imagine Ruto is incapable of leading the country, do you think this man can take over the Presidency?" Kabogo posed.
This comes even as Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Moses Kuria, and Kabogo announced that they will no longer attend any Kenya Kwanza rallies on the grounds that UDA politicians are allegedly getting preferential treatment.
In a joint letter penned by Chama Cha Kazi Secretary General, James Nage, and his Tujibebe Party counterpart, Gathii Irungu, on Thursday, June 16, the two political outfits chronicled instances in which they were allegedly sidelined by UDA members on the campaign trail.
"On June 13, 2022, Moses Kuria the party leader of Chama Cha Kazi had a day long activation in Thika Town constituency. Kuria invited Kenya kwanza MCAs including the ones from UDA. On the eve of the activation, Hon Alice Nganga called all the UDA aspirants warning them not to participate in the activation and that there is no party called Kenya Kwanza," the letter read in part.
"On the same day, a meeting of all UDA aspirants from Kiambu county was convened in Karen and chaired by DP Ruto and running mate Rigathi Gachagua to plan for a Hustler Express activation and a major rally in Ndumberi on Saturday, June18, 2022. Neither of the parties were invited for that planning meeting," the letter added.
The letter was addressed to Kenya Kwanza co-principals DP Ruto, Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya equal, Moses Wetangula.
The duo further blamed Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungwah, of instructing a caucus in UDA to cut ties with Chama Cha Kazi and Tujibebe Party.
"UDA MCA candidate Hon Kivyatu was severely reprimanded in that meeting for hosting Kuria in Ngoliba and he was threatened that the party can withdraw him as a candidate," added the Nage and Irungu letter.
According to Kuria and Kabogo, the same scheme was used to humiliate The Service Party (TSP) leader, Mwangi Kiunjuri, in June 2022 at Nyahururu and Nanyuki in front of coalition leaders DP Ruto, Kuria and Speaker Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi.
"It is clear from the foregoing that whereas the UDA party has no problem with ANC and Ford Kenya candidates in Western Kenya, Maendeleo Chap Chap party candidates in lower Eastern and Pamoja African Alliance candidate in the Coast region, a decision has been made by some quarters that parties with a strong footing in Mt Kenya region are not wanted in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance," added the letter.
To address the jitters in Kenya Kwanza, Kuria and Kabogo called for an immediate meeting with all Kenya Kwanza alliance leaders to address the woes.
Kabogo's sentiments comes just a day after he clashed with Wamatangi during a rally in Nyahururu which was organised by Gachagua.
