Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has cautioned against linking former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to any statements made by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu.
In an interview on Thursday, October 23, Nyutu made it clear that the two no longer work with Gachagua and are now fully aligned with the government.
"ODM should not associate Governor Kahiga’s remarks, especially given his history of making reckless statements, with Rigathi Gachagua.
"Both Governor Kahiga and Ngunjiri Wambugu are no longer working with Gachagua; they are now aligned with the government. Therefore, any statements made by the two should not be linked to Gachagua," he said.
Nyutu also dismissed claims that Gachagua’s allies had planned to mobilize youths in Nyeri following the death of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
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He said there was no such arrangement and that their decision to remain silent was deliberate to avoid further misinterpretation.
"We didn’t issue any formal statement regarding the alleged plans to mobilize youths in Nyeri to appear as though they were celebrating the death of Raila Odinga because if Rigathi was already being blamed for Raila’s illness, what would happen if we spoke now that he’s gone? That’s why we’ve chosen to mourn in silence," he added.
Nyutu further questioned ODM’s hostility toward Gachagua’s allies, saying their political frustrations were not directed at the party but rather at President William Ruto.
"We don’t understand why ODM is fighting us. We never had any problem with Raila Odinga because we didn’t vote for him. Our problem is with President William Ruto, whom we supported and voted for, yet he has thrown us under the bus," he further said.
This comes barely a day after East African Legislative assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega cautioned Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga against dragging the Mt. Kenya community into the controversy surrounding Kahiga's remarks.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 22, Kega suggested that criticism should remain directed at Kahiga and not an entire region.
"Some of us lost our seats in the 2022 elections for standing with Raila Odinga. Kindly, as you vilify Governor Mutahi Kahiga, kindly, Governor Gladys Wanga and Co., don’t drag the Mt. Kenya community in this unfortunate matter. You are also now crossing the line! Leave us now; we deal with our Kahiga internally," he said.
The row stems from a video that surfaced showing Kahiga making remarks that appeared to celebrate the death of the former Prime Minister.
While speaking in Kikuyu during an event in Kieni, Nyeri County, Kahiga claimed that Raila’s death was part of God’s plan to return development to the Mt. Kenya region.
"All goodies were being directed there because of tomorrow's plan, because it seemed like they did away with us, but God came and brought this thing.
"So now people have been told to go back to the drawing board because the plan that was there was probably to throw us out. But who is God. Does he take ugali at somebody's house or sleep in Kayole? He came through in his own way," he said.
Speaking on Wednesday, Wanga alleged that Kahiga was not speaking independently but on behalf of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
'What I know is that Kahiga does not speak for himself. Kahiga is the Spokesperson of Rigathi Gachagua. Rigathi Gachagua mocked Raila's illness and asked whether he was a virus and whether Kalonzo was a bacterium.
"To date, Rigathi Gachagua has yet to mourn Raila, who braved political tensions to go mourn his brother, the late Nderitu Gachagua," she claimed.
