Mutahi Kahiga Speaks On Alleged Mistreatments Gachagua Is Facing In Govt: "Denied Helicopter"

• Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga claimed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was facing mistreatment in the Kenya Kwanza government
• For instance, the Nyeri governor alleged that Gachagua was recently denied access to a helicopter for official use
• Kahiga faulted President William Ruto for publicly contradicting his deputy on the issue of shareholding in the government

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

Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga has spoken about the issues causing discomfort in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Why cracks are emerging in Kenya Kwanza government

Speaking on Inooro FM on Tuesday, May 21, Kahiga listed incidences that might have contributed to the alleged disharmony between President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

Kahiga said the president publicly contradicting Gachagua on shareholding in the Kenya Kwanza government was a clear sign that all was not well.

"When the president went to Nyanza, he said that shareholding remarks were primitive. I actually responded and told him that he was playing politics. I dared him to come and repeat the same remarks in Mt Kenya. It was the DP who started the conversation on shareholding, and he was speaking according to what they agreed with Ruto," Kahiga said.

Was Gachagua aware of the deal between Ruto and Raila?

The truce between Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga is also another issue that Gachagua's camp is uncomfortable with.

Kahiga, a close ally of the deputy president, claimed Gachagua was kept in the dark over the deal between the president and the opposition leader.

"We were later told that Rigathi was the one setting traps in the State House to ensure that Raila would never make it there. However, he never even knew the side Raila came from when he went to the State House," the Nyeri governor claimed.

The Nyeri governor further claimed that some government operatives have been denying Gachagua a helicopter for official functions.

Why Mt Kenya is losing trust in William Ruto

According to Kahiga, Gachagua is facing many issues in the Kenya Kwanza government but has yet to open up to his allies.

Kahiga said the Mt. Kenya region is losing trust in Ruto because of the alleged mistreatment that Gachagua is facing.

"There are even stories of him being denied a helicopter, and I know there are others he is not telling us. We can see something is going wrong. When I first talked to the president in our first meeting, I told him to repay our region for how it voted for him. Our journey with him was based on trust, but now we can see trust diminishing," he added.

Meanwhile, lawyer Makau Mutua warned Gachagua against infighting with the president.

In a statement on Tuesday, May 21, Makau said Gachagua might be tempted to clash with Ruto but would ultimately lose the battle.

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party spokesperson advised Gachagua to resist any urge to follow in Ruto's footsteps.

During his time as the DP, Ruto constantly clashed with retired president Uhuru Kenyatta in the previous regime.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke