Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and his Laikipia counterpart Joshua Irungu have cautioned President William Ruto against dalliance with Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a burial ceremony in Gitero in Nyeri, Kahiga expressed fears that Raila would easily infiltrate the government, following a meeting the Head of State held with Raila at Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's animal firm in Kisozi located in the Central part of the neighbouring country.
“He must be careful. We have seen in the past Raila utilising such an opportunity to infiltrate the Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru governments and wrecking the boat from within,” Kahiga claimed.
Kahiga, further citing the handshake deal between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga, cautioned that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua might suffer the same fate unless Ruto treads carefully.
“In the past, we have seen how the then deputy and now president William Ruto was treated when Raila was accommodated in Uhuru’s administration. We would not like a similar scenario to happen to our son,” he added.
On his part, Joshua Irungu noted that the opposition leader was not a trustworthy person, terming him as crafty.
“Ruto should deal with Odinga in a situation where one has to sleep with one eye closed while the other open since he can start something fishy anytime,” Joshua Irungu stated.
In November last year, a faction of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party members led by Kahiga, opposed the creation of an additional deputy party leader position.
This was after speculations going around hinted that the party would establish another deputy position, a role currently held by Rigathi Gachagua. At the time, the ruling party was seeking to foster a national outlook by accommodating kingpins from other regions ahead of the 2027 elections.
“There must be a Party leader and a Deputy Party Leader, the rest can be whatever they want, and we are demanding that as members of the UDA party,” Governor Kahiga charged at the time.
“We have one party leader, and so importantly is to have one deputy party leader.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has positioned himself to succeed William Ruto as the president. In that light, any alliances or truce between the Azimio leader and the head of state is seen as a threat to Gachagua’s plans.
