Marakwet Elders Defend Sudi Following Gachagua's Warning To Keep Off Mt Kenya Affairs: "Tulishangaa"

• Marakwet community elders criticised Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's public remarks about Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, emphasising their pride in Sudi's achievements
• The elders expressed surprise at Gachagua's decision to engage Sudi in a public exchange, viewing it as an attack on the Marakwet community
• They were shocked by Gachagua's accusations against Sudi and felt that such attacks should be directed at peers of his stature, not Sudi
• The elders advised Gachagua to address any disagreements with Ruto privately rather than publicly attacking Sudi

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Uasin Gishu - A section of Marakwet community elders have criticised Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's remarks about Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.

The elders declared their support for Sudi, pointing out that he is their son and they are proud of his achievements,

They revealed that they had watched him work hard to become a respected MP from a tout in the area.

The elders stated that they were surprised when the second in command decided to engage Sudi in a public exchange of words.

According to the elders, an attack on Sudi was a direct aggression towards the Marakwet community.

"We were surprised to see the Deputy President attacking Sudi, accusing him of walking around with stolen money and disrupting people's constituencies. We were very shocked because how could the DP respond to Sudi, a relatively minor figure, instead of confronting people of his own stature?

We were astonished and felt that the attack on Sudi was an attack on us as Marakwet. Imagine someone going so far as to tell us to go back to our homes when we are in Uasin Gishu. Uasin Gishu is cosmopolitan, a place for everyone. Everyone has the right to run for office anywhere, yet someone is telling us not to trouble the Nandi and to go back to our own place," they said.

What are Marakwet elders' advice to Gachagua

The elders urged Gachagua to discuss his issues with Ruto rather than attack Sudi, whom they described as his underling.

They pointed out that it was upon President William Ruto and Gachagua to iron out their alleged differences and assure their support base that the government was strong.

"DP, if you have an issue... if there is some disagreement with the president, you should go to State House, talk to him, sort out the matter privately. We do not even want to hear what you discussed. We want to hear that you are united and that the government is strong," the elders added.

UDA's communication director slams Gachagua

On Wednesday, May 22, UDA's communication director, Antonellah Kakuko, joined a group of Kenya Kwanza leaders who called out Gachagua over his one-man, one-shilling campaign.

The communication strategist said that Gachagua's campaigns are unconstitutional and discriminatory to marginalised communities.

While speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Kakuko argued that the country's resources must be shared equitably across the nation, considering even the most remote areas.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.