Kirinyanga Woman Rep Njeri Maina has fired a warning shot at a group of leaders targeting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua politically saying they will be in for a rude shock.
The firebrand lawmaker said they recognise Gachagua as their Mt Kenya kingpin and will rally behind him at all times.
She said the ongoing murmurs in the Mt Kenya region over its leadership will not amount to anything as the region will rally behind the DP.
"Are we going to support Rigathi Gachagua? Will we place him in our prayers? Are we going to back him (hapa kwa ground)? Are we going to let people joke about him?" the MP posed during a burial in Kirinyaga on Tuesday.
"Muchukue note book muandike, ikifika wakati wakuambiana watatupata (Let them take their notebook and note that when the right time comes they will face us)."
She added:
"We will not allow the Mt Kenya region to be painted as a war zone. My appeal is that we stand with Riggy G For those dreaming, let them do so because it is their right. But we are ready to face the off."
The MP said those interested in creating a rift between the President and his deputy are doing so for selfish reasons.
She claimed some leaders from the Mt Kenya region eyeing the DP seat want to separate the DP and his boss Ruto.
"Anyone who thinks that this is about the president and his deputy is misguided. It is a message to the selfish leaders from Mt. Kenya region who are falling over themselves to replace Rigathi Gachagua," she said.
The remarks come a day after Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru said leaders should allow others to dream of occupying their offices.
In a statement on X shortly after arrival in the US as part of President William Ruto’s entourage, the Council of Governors chair said the DP’s office is open for anyone with the ambition to occupy it and shouldn’t be treated as personal space.
"While we respect the office of the Deputy President, and indeed any other office of leadership, a progressive democracy does not allow us as occupiers of public leadership offices to personalise them to the extent that it becomes taboo for anyone else to nurture and express ambition to occupy them," Waiguru said.
"We hold these offices in trust not as owners. Let us recognise the right of all, especially our women and our youth to aspire to high office," she added.
The governor challenged those elected in office to offer guidance to aspiring leaders by mentoring them saying they all have a right to be ambitious and free to pursue their dreams like the current office holders dreamt and actualised their dreams.
"They too, deserve support, not hostility. Hopefully, we all seek the best for Kenya,” she said.
