• On February 19, Gachagua said that government appointments and contracts are a preserve of those who voted for the Kenya Kwanza administration at the August polls.
• On May 14, journalists put Ruto on the spot over Gachagua's remarks but he evaded the question saying the DP was in a better position to contextualise the remarks.
Image: RAILA ODINGA/TWITTER
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has reignited the debate on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's remarks that Kenya is like a company with shareholders.
Raila has challenged President William Ruto to make his stand on the remarks known.
This comes days after the head of state avoided delving into the matter during an engagement with the media.
"Mr Ruto must address Mr Gachagua's remarks regarding citizen shareholding and clarify his stance. If he agrees with his deputy, then the non-shareholding majority of Kenyans will be compelled to pursue self-determination, as permitted by Kenyan and International laws," Raila said in a statement on Twitter.
On February 19, Gachagua said that government appointments and contracts are a preserve of those who voted for the Kenya Kwanza administration in the August polls.
The DP who was speaking in Kericho during a fertiliser distribution exercise said Kenya Kwanza's staunch supporters would be prioritised in the sharing of the national cake whilst opposition supporters should be contended with the bread crumbs.
"This government is a company that has shares. There are owners who have the majority of shares, and those with just a few, while others do not have any. You invested in this government and you must reap. You sowed, tilled, put manure and irrigated, and now it is time to reap,” Gachagua said.
He would later clarify that his remarks only focused on sharing of positions and not the distribution of development projects.
Speaking during the launch of the Nairobi Water Commission at Korogocho on February 22, the second in command said the Kenya Kwanza government was going to serve all Kenyans equally, regardless of political affiliation.
"We want to reiterate that development will be rolled out all over the Republic of Kenya because every Kenyan is paying their taxes," he said.
"But for those who are supposed to help in the running of government, the President will choose people who understand and have faith in the Bottom Up economic transformation agenda," the DP added.
During his second media roundtable interview on May 14 at State House, Ruto was put on the spot over Gachagua's remarks but he evaded the question saying the DP was in a better position to contextualise the remarks.
"My deputy is a very eloquent person... I suggest you go and ask him those questions. He is a very capable Kenyan and I'm sure he will not shy away, he knows how to handle those questions," Ruto said.
When pressed further, Ruto who appeared quite uneasy, said it wouldn't be okay to start discussing Gachagua while he wasn't present to defend himself.
The President nonetheless said his government was regionally balanced and it features people from regions that did not vote for him.
"If you look at my PSs I got them from 41 counties. If you look at CASs I got them from 45 counties even the ones who voted for my opponent. If it was the philosophy of my opponent, they wouldn't be shareholders and they wouldn't qualify but there is an extent to which you must nationalise," Ruto said.