Kenyans don’t want me to defend MPs, I oblige - Rigathi Gachagua

Speaking at a church service in Bomet on Sunday, Gachagua revealed that he has received tens of messages from dissatisfied Kenyans who want him to stop apologising on behalf of MPs.

“Kenyans don’t want me to apologise on behalf of the MPs. They have warned me that if I continue defending them then I will find myself in trouble. So I have decided not to talk about the MPs and instead focus on President William Ruto and me,” Gachagua said.

He went on to ask the embattled MPs to return to the electorate, face them, and seek forgiveness on their own.

The DP described how on Saturday, while making stops in Kenol, Murang'a county, residents refused to listen to the MPs who had accompanied him.

“When I was in Kenol and the MPs who were with me wanted to speak, the residents said no and insisted that I address them. This shows that Kenyans are angry with their MPs and it’s now time they (MPs) go back to the grassroots and talk to their people,” he added.

Gachagua also cautioned elected and appointed leaders against displaying arrogance and opulence towards Kenyans, reminding them that they are in different capacities to serve the people. 

He claimed that leaders' arrogance towards Kenyans is a bad example that continues to erode trust between the people and the leaders.

Kenyans have expressed outrage at MPs who voted YES on the rejected bill, the majority of whom were elected by the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Some of the MPs have faced rejection and opposition from their constituents, with others having their homes and property raided. 

A section of Kenyans have also faulted religious institutions for going to bed with politicians, something that has seen several churches cancel planned harambees to be presided over by politicians. 

The punitive Finance Bill 2024 saw Kenyans, majority of them youth, take to streets in protest, which culminated in Tuesday’s invasion of the Kenyan Parliament. 

President Ruto was forced to reject the bill in totality after the protests turned violent, leading to the shooting deaths of some of the protesters by the police.