UDA running mate Rigathi Gachagua has hit back at President Uhuru Kenyatta following his interview with vernacular stations at State House, on Sunday, August 7.
Speaking on Monday, August 8, during an interview at his Nyeri residence, Gachagua accused Uhuru of leading Mount Kenya in the wrong direction.
He noted that it was under the President's tenure that the region had been most divided and subsequently crowned himself the new kingpin of the Mountain.
"Uhuru cannot come on live TV and claim that he is saddened because the Mount Kenya region is divided yet he is the one who caused the division.
"The Mountain will speak decisively and will be united in this vote - a unity of that will be cemented under my leadership. I will be very accommodative, I will reach out and I will listen to our people and most importantly restore their dignity," Gachagua opined.
The Mathira Member of Parliament reprimanded the President for assuming that he had the backing of the vote-rich region, maintaining that they had ditched him just as he abandoned them.
"When we needed him, he was not there. Are we only his people when he needs our votes? How can you come to us when you are left with two days before you retire? Why didn't you talk to us five years ago when you could help us?" he posed.
Deputy President William Ruto's point man pointed an accusing finger at Uhuru's partnership with Azimio flag-bearer Raila Odinga for the economic and infrastructural stagnation of Central Kenya.
He accused the Jubilee Party leader of rerouting all the development projects to Nyanza as part of benefits of the union formed in 2018.
During his brief interview with the press, the Azimio Council Chair claimed that the Mount Kenya region had been hoodwinked by leaders who turned them against him.
He noted that his biggest regret was the collapse of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) at the Supreme Court, which he ascertained would have benefited the region as well.
"My people in Mt Kenya were duped to believe that my plan to bring the one man one shilling ruling was about me. They were told to hate me but now I will be hanging out with my grandkids while the problem remains unresolved," he declared.
The President added that although he worked hard to ensure that the country was united through deals he brokered with Ruto and Raila, the the country was not as peaceful as he wanted.
"I also regret that despite my efforts to pursue peace through the 2013 and 2018 handshakes, the country's unity has not been fully actualised. Despite the insults, I hope to work with the new government to bring everyone on board and do better," Uhuru stated.
