Gachagua's 'gov't has shareholders' remarks haunt him as President Ruto, Kenya Kwanza leaders rubbish them

This, as Gachagua sparked reactions in February when he stated that the government has shareholders as its staunch supporters will receive plump rewards and members of the opposition, would be given the least consideration.

Gachagua declared that government appointments and contracts are a preserve of those who voted for the Kenya Kwanza government, sentiments that caused jitters among Kenyans who termed the sentiments as divisive.

He later defended his sentiments noting that he was using figurative language to explain himself however maintaining that Ruto would not appoint people who did not believe in his presidency.

"When it comes to forming a government, there is no president anywhere in the world would invite people to his government who do not believe in him and his agenda. That is where the issue of shares came from," he said during a church service in March.

"The people opposed to President Ruto, saying he is a thief incapable of running this country there is no way we can allow those people to his cabinet, to be his principal secretaries, his ambassadors."

Months later, key members of the Kenya Kwanza government seem to not subscribe to Gachagua's views, arguing that the government will equally administer services to every Kenyan devoid of their political affiliation.

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a County Aggregation and Industrial Park in Siaya, which is known to be an opposition stronghold, said that the government recognises every region as its shareholder.

"For me all parts of Kenya are useful, there is no part that is useless because you are contributing with your fish, cotton, and avocados, are you not shareholders? Everybody in this country is a shareholder," he said.

His sentiments echoed those of National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro who said that the shareholder narrative should be shelved 

" Stop this shareholders issue. All Kenyans are in government and all of us want to be involved in development issues. Honeymoon is over, celebrations are over," Osoro said. 

In a fresh disruption of the rubble,  President William Ruto was speaking during a four-day tour in Nyanza, where he made a sharp contrasting statement to his deputy.

Ruto asserted that nobody will be shortchanged or sidelined in the distribution of government resources, clearly steering clear from insinuating that some sectors will be getting a lion's share as compared to others.

"Let nobody tell you that you are out of this government. You pay taxes and you are Kenyans. This is your government. I will not allow any part of Kenya to be discriminated against in terms of development on the basis of political affiliation," he said.

"It is primitive and backward for anybody to imagine that any region of Kenya cannot get development on account of how they voted. That is not correct. I am the President of Kenya you are citizens of Kenya, so this is your government."

A day after, on October 8, DP Gachagua however reiterated that he shall not recoil from censures on his statements and that he remains unapologetic on the same.

“The matter of saying those who voted (for this government) be looked after is Biblical. What I am asking is within the Bible,” he said while addressing a Sunday service in Nandi as he quoted Galatians 6:10 in the Bible.

“It is in the Bible; not my words. I want to tell these people, don’t waste your time, there will be no division in this government. President William Ruto and I talk the same language. We consult, agree, and move on."

Story updated on October, 9, 2023 to include President Ruto's remarks - Editor