War of words as DP Gachagua, Raila clash at funeral of Mau Mau veteran

The funeral of Mau Mau freedom hero John Njigoya Kagwe, alias Brigadier Kiboko in Nyandarua County on Friday played host to deep-seated political tension between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The two leaders engaged in a war of words over a myriad of issues, among them the anti-government demonstrations as well as the ongoing bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party.

Azimio chief Odinga, in his address, insisted on the need for the dialogue to continue in a bid to end the current political stalemate in the country.

The former Prime Minister went ahead to reiterate that Azimio is not interested in entering a coalition agreement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, as alleged by some leaders.

Odinga went ahead to dismiss DP Gachagua’s recent remarks that he met President William Ruto privately, away from the bipartisan talks arrangement, and advocated for his own personal gains.

The opposition frontman further urged the government to restrict police officers from firing live ammunition at civilians during demonstrations.

“Hakuna mwendawazimu ataenda tu kwa barabara kufanya maandamano kama hakuna shida, ndio sababu ata ukienda kule Ufaransa watu wako kwa barabara. Sasa Riggy G, hakuna ubaya wa watu kuzungumza, wacha watu wazungumze; ata kama wewe hutaki kuskiza maneno yangu, lakini skiza tu,” said Odinga.

“Na tena nataka kukuambia usiwe na wasiwasi, sisi hatutaki nusu mkate, mkate gani? Mimi staki mkate...staki kuwa Waziri Mkuu, hiyo yote nishakuwa...kwa hivyo wewe kaa polepole...usiseme ati ooh sisi hatutaki hii, wanataka nusu mkate, ameongea na Ruto...mimi nilikutana na Ruto lini?”

He added: “Wakenya wazungumze waskilizane, tutapata suluhu hapo katikati; tukiwa pamoja kama Wakenya wazalendo, tutaweza kutatua shida zetu. Ile kitu ambayo tuwache, polisi waache kupiga watu wetu na risasi; hiyo ni kuumiza maisha ya mtu ambaye ni Mkenya kama wewe.”

DP Gachagua, in response, told off Odinga for what he termed as exploiting a Constitutional loophole to conduct “violent demonstrations.”

The deputy president said that while the right to picket is enshrined in law, the Constitution does not allow for violence and mass looting of citizen property in the process.

“Our Constitution has express provision for demonstrations, picketing, and all that goes with it, and that is why we allowed you and your people to do it, but what you did was not demonstrations; ilikuwa ni kuharibu na kupora mali ya Wakenya, na kuiga polisi na mawe,” he said.

“Those were not demonstrations, that was theft, looting, destruction of property, and it cannot be allowed in this Republic. Na ndio nimesema hakuna, we will not allow you again. So vile mumesema mtazungumza, endeleeni na mazungumzo, sisi tumetuma Kimani Ichung’wah, wewe umetuma Kalonzo Musyoka, waendelee. Mimi na rais tuko kwa mambo ya barabara, maji, stima...mnataka tufanye kazi ama tuende mazungumzo? Sisi tuko kwa kazi.”

Gachagua also rubbished claims by a section of opposition leaders that the country will be divided into two parts, terming the assertions as mere idle talk.

“If you agree, mwache fujo, kuharibu mali ya watu na kuiba mali ya Wakenya, we have no problem. Piga tu kelele kutoka asubuhi alafu muende nyumbani, no problem; lakini kuharibu mali ya mtu, ng’we...kama mnataka kuharibu mali ya Wakenya, mharibu kwenu. Hawa watu wa Mt. Kenya, kazi ya ni kutafuta mali na kulinda mali; these people do not know anything about destruction of property,” he said.

“Niliskia watu wakisema Kenya itagawanywa mara mbili, Kenya gani? Hii ya William Ruto na Rigathi Gachagua? Inawezekana kweli? Let’s be honest with each other, former Prime Minister; you demonstrate and picket, but let it be peaceful.”

The DP added: “And in this country, all the demonstrations you have led, none has ever been peaceful, they have all been violent; and that is why the government of Kenya will not allow any demonstration anywhere, haitawezekana, hiyo I’m telling you ukiwa hapa.”