Speaking during a media roundtable on Sunday, Gachagua claimed that Kindiki is enduring mounting political pressure in silence because of his position within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Our son from Tharaka is suffering, I know what he is going through because I went through the same. Being that I was elected, I was tough headed, no one could insult me. Even Junet’s statements, it is Ruto who told them,” he claimed.
“Ruto is the one making him suffer, Ruto has told them until Kindiki gets angry and resigns” added Gachagua.
Gachagua said the alleged strategy was not new, claiming he was subjected to a similar pattern during his tenure as Deputy President. He recalled an event in Kisumu attended by President Ruto, where he said leaders allied to the Head of State publicly criticized him allegedly under the President’s instructions.
During the interview, Gachagua defended Kindiki, saying the Deputy President could not publicly condemn Health Cabinet Secretary Duale’s remarks targeting the Kikuyu community because he serves within government.
Gachagua criticized Duale, claiming the Cabinet Secretary contributed allegedly 7000 votes to President Ruto’s election, while Mount Kenya delivered a significant number of votes that secured his presidency.
He argued that Duale occupies his Cabinet position because of the support President Ruto received from the region raising questions as to why the CS could allegedly describe members of the Kikuyu community as “hyenas.”
During a public event in Mandera County, Duale, speaking in Somali, made remarks appearing to target the Kikuyu community, claiming they believed “no one else should live in Kenya” before likening them to hyenas.
He also criticized the administrations of former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing them of neglecting the North Eastern region and denying many residents national identity cards.
The remarks triggered a political storm, drawing condemnation from leaders across the political divide including Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) Martha Karua and a section of Senators across both sections of Senate.
Gachagua maintained that had he still been Deputy President, he would have pushed for Duale’s resignation, saying the Health Cabinet Secretary’s remarks were enough to justify his dismissal from a government that was largely supported by the people he allegedly insulted.
