Rigathi Gachagua Remains Firm On His Call For One Man, One Shilling: “Are We Wrong?”

• Mt Kenya leaders are seemingly divided between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, with the revenue allocation debate at the centre of the split
• Gachagua, a critic of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), has reversed course and is now advocating for the region’s preferred revenue allocation formula
• The DP questioned if he was wrong to fight for the populous region’s interests, stating “one man, one shilling, one vote”
• Gachagua called for unity in Mt Kenya, criticising those sowing seeds of disunity and likening them to traitors during the fight for independence

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

Kirinyaga - A familiar script is playing out in Kenya's political scene as Mt Kenya leaders draw battle lines.

The region has once again been divided between the sitting head of state and his deputy, barely two years into their first term in office.

At the centre of the split between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua is the revenue allocation debate.

A strong critic of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), Gachagua has made a U-turn and is leading a charge for the region's preferred revenue allocation formula.

During the burial of Mwalimu Julius Kano Ndumbi at Kianyaga Boys High School on Tuesday, May 21, the DP questioned if he was wrong to fight for the populous region's interests.

"We are saying one man, one shilling, one vote; are we wrong?" Gachagua posed.

Gachagua's call for unity

The DP did not hold back as he took on his critics, whom he accused of sowing seeds of disunity in the Mt Kenya region.

Gachagua observed that his critics were similar to collaborators who worked against the land and freedom army in the region.

The DP underscored that such individuals are not fit to for leadership, appealing to all in Mt Kenya to unite.

"Collaborators sell-out and traitors will just be that. No leadership space for them. Traitors were there in the fight for independence, lets unite," Gachagua said in his vernacular.

Anne Waiguru tears into Gachagua

Earlier, Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru took a swipe at the Deputy President.

In a statement on Monday, May 20, Waiguru said public officers like those holding the position of deputy president should not personalise their offices.

In an indirect attack on Gachagua and his allies, Waiguru said it's wrong to make it appear taboo for anyone else to aspire to be the deputy president.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke