Saturday, June 8, 2024 –Outspoken Member of Parliament MP Didmus Barasa has claimed that Rigathi Gachagua did not deserve to deputise President William Ruto because he was not the party’s favourite.
Speaking during funeral service for the late Cleophas Simiyu Masinde at Kimukung’o Primary School in Bungoma County today Saturday June 8, MP Barasa disclosed the intrigues that led to Gachagua becoming the runningmate to William Ruto period heading towards the last general election.
He shared that, when the time to select the running mate came, it was very hard for Central Region to produce one person to deputise Ruto. This, therefore, forced party members to come up with a formular to send all elected leaders from Central Region to lock themselves in a room for days and bring with them one person to be the running mate.
“I want to remind Gachagua that when we were making this party UDA and when the time of looking for deputy or running mate for Ruto came, we agreed to send all leaders from Central Kenya to hold a closed-door meeting and bring us one man to be the running mate to Ruto,” Barasa stated.
At this far, the Central Region politicians went back to their meeting room where they spent days before fronting one person to deputise Ruto.
“They went to sit alone and they were over 50 people to pick their favorite running mate. In that process, Gachagua got only one vote. I, Oscar Sudi, Ndindi Nyoro and Farouk Kibet we have to ask for forgiveness from Central Kenya leaders who had given Riggy G only one vote,” quipped Barasa.
MP Barasa, has disclosed that Prof Ibrahim Kithure Kindiki who is now the current Interior cabinet secretary had won with a landslide but he also decided to cede ground for the defeated Gachagua.
It was at this end that William Ruto who was then their candidate defied the person who had won the running mate position and offered it to Mr. Gachagua.
“Deputy President is that how you want to pay William Ruto by speaking the language of the opposition,” MP Barasa sought answers today.
Barasa was speaking this amid back and forth in the ruling party with deputy president and his boss William Ruto pulling apart.
Today, however, Gachagua who was speaking in Kericho County downplayed any crisis in the party saying their relationship with each other was firm and cemented.
