DP Gachagua says not privy to formal agreement between Ruto-Raila

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says he is not aware of a formal agreement, if any, between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the formation of a broad-based government.

Speaking exclusively to Citizen TV on Friday night, Gachagua underscored that his boss only informed him of the broad-based deal and the intention to unite the nation and he plainly took his word for it.

He referred to his “trusting nature,” reiterating that he trusts the President and therefore had to trust that the deal meant well for the nation.

“Have you seen the formal agreement between the President and Raila?” Posed Citizen TV’s Sam Gituku.

“No. I trust the President. The President gave me his word, and I was happy. If there was any written agreement I am not aware of it. I took his word that we need to bring these people so that we work together and make our country move forward,” he responded.

Gachagua, who seemingly expressed fears of looming ill-motive in the deal, claimed that some of his close allies and his foes were saying that the unity with the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party would result in his impeachment.

According to the DP, amidst a rift in the ruling Kenya Kwanza following the Mt. Kenya supremacy battles, reports are rife that MPs drawn from Mr. Odinga’s ODM party would mount support for his impeachment.

He however expressed support for the broad-based government nevertheless, saying he still hopes the pact means good for the nation and has no will.

“I support the broad-based government and embrace the people that joined us. However, I am told they’re saying that they didn’t have the numbers to remove me but now that Raila has come on board, they can use his MPs to join and kick me out,” stated the DP.

Gachagua went on to assert that his trust might be leading him astray since he is the only leader in government without a written agreement with the Head of State.

“So trusting am I and my people from Mt. Kenya that in the whole of this matrix, we’re the only people without a written agreement with Ruto. We just agreed as gentlemen; when Mudavadi came to join Ruto, they had an MoU, Moses Wetangula, Amason Kingi, and Alfred Mutua have an MoU. Everybody wrote an MoU with President Ruto,” said Gachagua.

“We trusted Ruto and did not even form our own party and we moved together on trust. What we agreed on is what we are proceeding on. I have never asked the President for any written document, I always take his word.”

He added: “Many of our supporters from Mt. Kenya think there was an indiscretion on my part in the decision but I think I didn’t the right thing because trust is very important. One of the ways he can reciprocate that trust is stopping the humiliation of DP.”