Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has in the last few days had looming trouble knocking at his door as leaders in government have been making sentiments that display a sharp contrast to those of the DP.
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 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 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.
