Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, on Monday, claimed that Second Lady Pastor Dorcas Rigathi broke down after she was overwhelmed with emotions in a meeting held in Karen at the height of the 2022 elections.
In a video posted on his social media handles, the former lawmaker alleged that Pastor Dorcas, the spouse of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, shed tears as she pleaded with President William Ruto to pick her husband as his running mate.
According to Ngunjiri, the meeting was held at the official residence of the DP and was attended by five people. Other than Gachagua, his wife and the President, Ngunjiri, and Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro were also in attendance.
The quartet reportedly visited Ruto to convince him to support Gachagua's candidature for the DP role, arguing that he was the right choice at the time owing to the political dynamics in Mt Kenya.
Gachagua then faced stiff competition from Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, who was the favourite candidate according to Kenya Kwanza insiders.
"I am old, but I cried defending the DP. Gachagua's wife cried, and I can say that Ruto heeded to our cries. We did not hate Interior CS Kithure Kindiki. However, to put the Mt Kenya vote in one basket, we had to settle on Gachagua," he stated.
Ngunjiri's revelation comes amid reports of a looming fallout between Ruto and Gachagua, despite the former not addressing the claims as the latter continues to refute them.
The former MP, once a close ally of Ruto, further claimed that Gachagua was treading on unchartered waters as he had sidelined both Ndindi Nyoro and him (Ngunjiri).
He clarified that he had no issues with being sidelined despite backing Gachagua for the DP role but warned him against having differences with his boss.
Ngunjiri, appointed Lands Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) by Ruto, advised Gachagua to solve his differences with the boss quietly, warning that such frictions would be costly to the Mt Kenya region.
"I also want to remind the DP that the most important thing after one is elected as President is to unite all Kenyans. The President cannot go somewhere and talk about shares. He is a symbol of unity.
"He must work everywhere even if he won't get elected in those areas, including Nyanza. I agree with the President when he says that all Kenyans are taxpayers. Ruto has tried, and the ambassadorial appointments show the face of Kenyans," the former lawmaker stated, further calling on Mt Kenya leaders to unite.
Additionally, he alleged that tension was building in Ruto's Rift Valley backyard as some leaders had initiated plans to succeed him as the region's kingpin. Ngunjiri warned that the succession plans were premature and detrimental to Ruto's development agenda.
However, the DP has openly rejected reports claiming that he fell out with the President, insisting that the pair were united and planning how to retain power in 2027.
His wife, Pastor Dorcas, on Sunday, October 8, added that she was constantly praying for him to succeed.
“He (Gachagua) is a good leader, and he is going to lead, because we are on our knees. They said he will not get there; he is there by the grace of God. And by the power of God, he will remain there and we are going to pray for him. That is a message coming from his wife," Pastor Dorcas revealed while speaking at PCEA Kabiruini in Nyeri.
"As a people, we are behind the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and there is no two ways about that. As a region, we want to say, in a very specific way, that we are solidly behind President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. We can see a joint ticket, and we are behind that,“Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga added.
