Senator Wahome Wamatinga believes former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua would still be in office had he valued counsel from other leaders and remained loyal to President Dr William Ruto.
In a candid interview on Kameme TV on Tuesday morning, Eng. Wamatinga said the beginning of Rigathi’s fall from grace was his sheer contempt for those who had backed him in his meteoric rise to power.
The lawmaker who terms the falloutbetween Rigathi and Dr Ruto as one of the costliest gambles for the Mount Kenya region, has nevertheless said the former DP could still reinvent himself and rekindle his political fortunes.
“Rigathi Gachagua’s falloutwith the President Dr William Ruto and his subsequent impeachment by Parliament were self-inflicted injuries. The duo had both fought hard in the campaign trenches before sweeping into power in 2022. Nothing had hindered Rigathi from pushing for the development of his region as long as he remained loyal, patient and focused. But he was restless and overambitious and soon forgot that you cannot talk while food is still in your mouth,” he told Kameme TV.
At a personal level, Wamatinga claims Rigathi subjected him to the furnace of affliction the moment he was sworn into office.
By that time, the Government owed Wamatinga more than Sh700 million as unpaid dues for works done, money which he had been promised would be paid once the new administration settled down.
The Senator says at the time he was in financial distress and lenders were even threatening to come for his Sh300 million home to recover a loan he owed.
“I am one person alongside other leaders from Mount Kenya region who supported Rigathi and had vowed to pull all stops to ensure he secured the Deputy President’s slot. In return, he personally promised to push for the payment of my pending bills once he got into office. Unfortunately, once in office, he changed his mind and even advised his Personal Assistant to ensure the money was never paid. This money has never been paid to date,” he disclosed.
The lawmaker has also accused the former second in command of being an authoritarian and intolerant towards any leader unwilling to obey his marching orders.
He claims that majority of those who fell out with Rigathi were men and women who only differed with him in opinion and who felt uncomfortable dancing to his every tune.
This, according to Wamatinga, was the clearest indication that the former DP was not willing to accommodate divergent views from others or seek their counsel on matters affecting the people of Mount Kenya region.
“When the former DP realised some leaders from Nyeri and the Mount Kenya region were reluctant to sing to his every tune, he turned the heat on them. At one time, it became even impossible to reach him even on call. Personally, I once had to endure long hours outside his office waiting for an appointment with him after he had ignored my calls. This is not how you win the hearts of people. One convinces followers through influence,” he argues.
But Wamatinga says despite the exit of his former deputy, Dr Ruto has managed to undertake remarkable development projects in Nyeri and the larger Mount Kenya region.
He noted that since the Kenya Kwanza government took over in 2022, many of the projects that had stalled are back on track including the push for allocation of funding for Karemenu and Naromoru Irrigation Water Projects in Kieni East.
Both dams were valued atSh13 billion and were to help boost irrigation on some 5,200 hectares of land in the area.
“We are going to remain in this government since we are part of the team that founded it. Personally, I thank President Ruto for the ongoing development projects in Nyeri which I believe will improve the livelihoods of our people a great deal. We also laud the Government for the proposed rehabilitation works at the Aguthi Water Project in Tetu where engineers are going to replace the old asbestos-cement water piping with HDPE ones at a cost of Sh648 million following safety concerns. This is what our leaders should be fighting for,” stressed the lawmaker.
The Senator did not however rule out working again with Rigathi in the future, emphasising that in politics, there were no permanent friends or permanent enemies.
However, for such a working relationship to materialise, the former DP must exhibit his commitment to work for the welfare of all the people and be willing to accommodate the opinions of his critics.
“You cannot rule out anything as far as our relationship with Rigathi since nothing is impossible in politics. Some of our fiercest critics from the Azimio side are today serving in various Cabinet portfolios. If we (with Rigathi) can agree to push for development programmes for our people devoid of personal aggrandisement, nothing is ruled out,” he stated.
By Samuel Maina
