Kanini Kega Declares Rigathi Gachagua Mt Kenya Kingpin

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Garissa County on Monday, November 21, 2022
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Garissa County on Monday, November 21, 2022
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Rigathi Gachagua

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Kanini Kega has declared Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as the only senior leader in Mt. Kenya.

Speaking on Wednesday, November, 23 Kega noted that Rigathi, a former lawmaker in the 12th Parliament, was wise to unite the region.

"Rigathi did well in uniting us, this is the only senior leader we have in Mt Kenya. We need to rally behind him as a region," Kega urged.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega speaks during a session in Parliament on July 25, 2018.
Former Kieni MP, Kanini Kega, speaks during a session in Parliament on July 25, 2018.
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"I want to thank the DP Rigathi Gachagua who saw that Mt Kenya region will have a problem if we are not represented in Arusha, " he added.

He additionally lamented over failing to get support from the Azimio La Umoja Coalition in the hotly contested EALA vote on Thursday, November 17.

The former Kieni MP recounted the time spent campaigning for the coalition especially the party leader Raila Odinga in the run-up to the August 9 polls.

"I thought my people from Azimio would support me but I was shocked when the voting was done. Some of them voted for people I did not even recognise," 

"I could not believe that would happen to me considering how I stuck out my neck for one of their own," Kega lamented.

Kega also hinted at not fully supporting any candidate in the future.

Notably, the DP earlier detailed the tactics used to rally Mt Kenya and Kenya Kwanza Alliance MPs behind Kega for the regional job.

According to Gachagua, he supported Kega regardless of the political differences as a way of uniting the region noting that it was time to work and not hold petty grudges.

Gachagua added that he sought to take over after retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as the region's kingpin who reportedly exited office without a succession plan.

"We are mentoring our young leaders to prepare them for leadership. We do not want to be caught in the situation we were in as a region because nobody was mentored," Gachagua assured.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses the congregation at Christ the King Cathedral, Bungoma, on Sunday, August 28, 2022.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses the congregation at Christ the King Cathedral, Bungoma, on Sunday, August 28, 2022.
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