Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has acknowledged a rift between himself and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. However, he denied accusations of obstructing efforts to tackle illicit brew issues in parts of Mt Kenya.
Wamumbi urged Gachagua to disclose the details of their differences, particularly regarding the alleged closure of bars in Karatina.
“It is true there is a rift between the Deputy president and I. He should say the truth, and nothing but the truth,” he said.
“It is about something bigger than that,” he stated.
The response by the legislators follows an assertion by Gachagua that some officers from the Ministry of Interior allegedly thwarted the fight against illicit brew in the region.
He spoke Sunday during a church service at Kiamariga PEFA Church in Mathira.
The officials, he said, are facilitating the re-opening of bars in the region to frustrate his mission to end alcoholism.
“I heard that our local MP has directed security officers in Karatina, purportedly on orders from above to re-open bars,” he said.
“An MP cannot instruct security officers, if security officers from this region are taking instructions from an MP, we shall discipline them.”
While urging the officers not to reopen illegal bars that were closed down for violating Alcoholic Drinks and Control Regulations, Gachagua said the move amounts to undermining President William Ruto and Kenyans.
“Some bars have been reopened. No decision has been made by the Cabinet to stop the war against illicit or allow the illegal liquor joints to reopen. Anybody stopping or undermining the fight is setting the President and the Government against the people of Kenya”.
Wamumbi added that he will soon be revealing the truth about the genesis of their bad blood for people to judge.
“I will be telling the truth, and the people of Mathira will pick which side to believe in,” he said in a post.
The legislator who is Gachagua’s home MP has lately sided with President William Ruto.
