Gachagua to Azimio: It's our turn to eat first

Gachagua, who has lately sparked massive criticism with his controversial public pronouncements, said President William Ruto's administration will give first priority to those who voted for them.

The country's second-in-command warned those who voted against Ruto that they will only be considered for government appointments after all Kenya Kwanza loyalists have been rewarded.

“You only harvest where you have sown,” Gachagua said when he led the Kenya Kwanza brigade for a thanksgiving church service at Koilel AIC, Uasin Gishu.

"There are those who want to harvest where they did not sow.....now those who sow should harvest first. When all those who sow have harvested, then those who did not sow will get the leftovers,” Gachagua said.

The Deputy President made the remarks on the backdrop of vicious jostling among technocrats and politicians for state appointments as Ruto reorganises his government.

His remarks also came a day after the Public Service Commission sparked uproar for recalling an earlier list of shortlisted applicants for Principal Secretary position and added 108 new names.

There were reports that the PSC was forced to review the list to accommodate some of the Kenya Kwanza bigwigs who did not make it to the initial list of 477.

Some of the big names included in the amended list, and who supported Kenya Kwanza in the last elections, include former nominated senator David Sankok, ex-Kisauni MP Ali Bogo and former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal.

While lauding National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula for his stellar performance that he said helped Kenya Kwanza win the presidency, Gachagua maintained that loyalists will be rewarded first.

“So that you know you harvest where you sow, didn't he (Wetang'ula) help us? Hasn't he been given the Speaker's position? Now others want to harvest where they did not sow,” Gachagua said.

The government has also asked for a detailed list of all serving parastatal chiefs including board chairpersons, members and chief executive officers ahead of an impending shakeup.

The database should be availed to the Head of the Civil Service by Monday.

The President is set to use the vacant posts in state corporations and government agencies to reward his political loyalists whom he promised state appointments during campaigns.

Gachagua's remarks on Sunday could dash hopes by some of the politicians allied to the opposition coalition Azimio, who could be angling for state jobs in Ruto's administration.

Recently, some politicians who campaigned aggressively for Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga have crossed over to Ruto's camp with the hope of securing state appointments.

The crossover had triggered disquiet within the Kenya Kwanza camp amid jitters that the Johnnies come lately were trying to “harvest where they did not sow”.

At the same time, Gachagua on Sunday told off public officers who have come out openly to correct him, saying he would not shy away from speaking out the truth.

"I am urging those leaders who worked with Uhuru Kenyatta's government, you had better get used to the DP because I will always speak the truth,” he said.

He went on: "Now, some of them want to argue with us when we say that the institution is on its knees yet it is in the public domain. When we say so, you oppose that it has not, yet you are the chairman, then tell us why.”

This comes after the Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge differed with Gachagua over the alleged attempts by the former government to control the foreign exchange reserves.

Last week, the national carrier Kenya Airways was forced to refute Gachagua's claims that it is under state capture and its contracts are compromised.

Gachagua, during an interview, claimed that the reason behind KQ’s loss making streak was because of bad contracts they had allegedly entered into to benefit a few individuals in what he termed as state capture.

However, KQ through its chairman Michael Joseph disputed the claims, noting that the contracts by the airline are purely commercial business arrangements meant to benefit it.

The DP said the new administration would not go after public servants in the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s era who were used to frustrate Kenya Kwanza in a bid to block Ruto’s candidature.

Speaking in Ruto's turf, Gachagua also recounted harrowing ordeals in the hands of public servants, recalling how First Lady Rachel Ruto was once forced to disembark from chartered plane and her bags thrown out.

“Mama Rachel's belongingss and those of children were thrown out on the runway,” Gachagua claimed.

In another instance, the DP said the First Lady was also thrown out of a government house in Mombasa by overzealous officers in the name of renovating the house.

"Even the 50 police officers who were sent by Uhuru to arrest me in my house during which they undressed me in front of my wife and children, then called my workers to take pictures, I forgive them,” Rigathi said.

The DP said he had forgiven all those who frustrated President William Ruto and him during the campaign season.

The DP said police should know that they too have families and should not allow such to happen to anyone.

"Siku ingine msifanyie binadamu vile mmetufanyia, Mungu akiwapa nafasi ya kufanya (When given such opportunities again do not frustrate a human being like that)," he said.

He said that Kenyans need to embrace forgiveness to move forward.

Ruto's allies who attended the event said they would not forget the torture they went through during Uhuru’s last term in office.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago said they should not be forced to move on but must be allowed to vent out their anger as a way of healing from Uhuru's torture.

“We must speak out so that we can vent out our anger. Forgiveness comes from speaking the truth from our heart,” Mandago said.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah told the national administration who were used to intimidate politicians should be free to carry on with their mandates as the new government will not revenge against anyone.

“All those who persecuted us and did all manner of things to us, I want to tell you that the Ruto’s  administration will not be on a revenge mission. Don’t be worried,” the Kikuyu MP said.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko however maintained that those who looted public coffers during the last regime must be made to account for their misdeeds, which have plunged the country into an economic mess.

“Those who stole at Kemsa,  the Covid billionaires and those who have been calling Ruto a thief are themselves  big thieves and it is time they will have to return the cash,” Sonko said.

Wetang’ula described the just concluded general elections as a major win over tribalism, adding Ruto’s administration will revive the economy.

“The biggest causality in this election is tribalism and fear-mongering. Kenyans have moved forward. We have great expectations out of elections, we also have great challenges after elections,” the National Assembly Speaker said.

“I know without fear or contradiction that Kenya Kwanza is going to turn around this country and bring back smiles in the faces of Kenyans.”

Rigathi was accompanied by Wetang'ula, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet.

Others were MPs Janet Jepkemboi (Turbo), Prof Phyllis Bartoo (Moiben), Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei , Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wesley Rotich, regional commissioner Maalim Mohamed, former Nairobi Governor Sonko and Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago.

Edited by Henry Makori