Editor's Review

Gachagua said he is like a father figure to the three candidates and will not campaign for any of them

Deputy President William Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua has denied favouring and campaigning for UDA Candidate in Kiambu gubernatorial race Senator Kimani Wamatangi.

Speaking to Nation, Gachagua said he has no favourite gubernatorial candidate in Kiambu county and that it is upon the three KKA affiliate candidates to square it out in the county.

Gachagua termed the three candidates as his friends, adding that Moses Kuria usually visits his home on a regular basis for engagements and that he will not campaign against him or any of the two other candidates.

According to Gachagua, he has acted as a father figure to the three candidates and cannot in any way help any of them since he is not a Kiambu county voter and has been concentrating on National politics.

"Kuria and I are friends. He visits my home frequently. We share the same ideals and he has never expressed any misgivings about my leadership. The discomfort expressed by Kabogo has everything to do with Kiambu where he, Kuria and Senator Kimani Wamatangi want to be governor. I cannot help any of them because I am not a Kiambu voter and I am a father figure to the three," he stated.

Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua and Kiambu gubernatorial candidate Moses Kuria during a campaign rally on June 15, 2022. Photo: Courtesy

While insisting that he has no favourite candidate in Kiambu, Gachagua urged Kabogo to go out looking for votes adding that he cannot dictate to the people of Kiambu who they should vote for.

This comes after Gachagua was accused by Tujibebe Wakenya Party Leader William Kabogo and his Chama Cha Kazi counterpart Moses Kuria of rocking the Kenya Kwanza Alliance from within.

Gachagua together with a section of his UDA allied leaders were accused by Kabogo and Kuria of secluding them from Kenya Kwanza activities and favouritism towards UDA candidates in areas largely occupied by Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties.

However, Gachagua refuted the claims, saying he gave Kabogo, Kuria and Wamatangi an equal opportunity to address the crowd during his recent rally in Kiambu.

He accused Kabogo saying he came to his Kiambu rally with his sound system and was interrupting others. Gachagua added that he told Kabogo to respect his meeting and have some order, something that seemed to have angered him.

"Naturally, we campaign for our candidates. But when we go to a place like Kiambu where there is a fair contest among the Kenya Kwanza candidates, we allow the people to make their own decision. That is why I allowed the three to speak at the meeting," he stated