Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses music fans during the Ngogoyo Laikipia Music Extravaganza held at Old House in Nanyuki Town, Laikipia County, on Saturday, June 1. PHOTO | Courtesy.
In Summary:
- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended his efforts to unite the Mt. Kenya region, asserting that national unity can only be achieved through a bottom-up approach.
- His remarks come amid growing division within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and the Kenya Kwanza government.
- Gachagua argues that addressing regional issues and uniting communities is crucial before achieving broader national unity.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has staunchly defended his pursuit of unity within the Mt. Kenya region, maintaining that national cohesion can only be realized through a grassroots, bottom-up approach.
His comments come amidst escalating tensions and divisions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and the Kenya Kwanza government.
“I’m just using the bottom-up approach,” Gachagua stated during the launch of the Bahati’s Empire Reality Show on Thursday, June 7.
He emphasized the importance of addressing regional concerns before achieving broader national unity.
“I am focused on uniting my people so that they unite with the people of Kenya. As they say, charity begins at home. There is no way Kenya can be united unless we do it the bottom-up way.”
Gachagua further explained that his actions were in line with the bottom-up economic model championed by President William Ruto and his team during the 2022 election campaign.
He argued that unity within the country should also follow a similar grassroots approach, stating, “You cannot unite from the top, it cannot work. Much as we are working on the economy through the bottom up, the unity of the country is also bottom up.”
The Deputy President acknowledged the unique issues facing the Mt. Kenya region, underscoring the need to address them.
“Everybody comes from somewhere. People who speak one language have certain things that are peculiar to them. People of the same tongue need to share their thoughts using the same tongue before joining others to talk about Kenya,” he added.
Gachagua’s remarks come amid criticism from a section of UDA party leaders, including President Ruto himself, who have cautioned against promoting divisive tribal politics.
While not directly naming Gachagua, Ruto and his allies have urged leaders to focus on uniting the nation rather than specific regions.
During a church service in Bungoma County, Ruto emphasized, “I have been in this politics for a long time, I understand the dangers of politics of dividing people across tribal lines. Please, those of you in government, don’t take that route of tribal politics. Let me request and urge all our leaders to focus their energies on the transformation of our country not on dividing Kenyans along tribal lines.”
Notably, after facing criticism in Bungoma, Gachagua challenged leaders from the Mt. Kenya region to oppose his unity efforts in their backyard, further underscoring his determination to pursue regional cohesion as a stepping stone towards national unity.