Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that he should be allowed to make peace with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The DP said if President William Ruto reconciled with Azimio leader Raila Odinga, he too is at liberty to extend an olive branch to the retired President.
While addressing residents in Nyeri on Saturday, Gachagua said he is being fought over his decision to reconcile with Uhuru.
"Sisi tulichukia Uhuru Kenyatta mtoto wetu na makosa ilikuwa moja peke yake; kazi alikuwa amefanya, amejenga barabara ameleta maji. Tukamchukia, tukampiga, tukamdharau kwa sababu ya kutetea Raila Odinga," Gachagua said.
(We hated our son Uhuru Kenyatta and the only mistake he did was build roads and provide water for Kenyans but we hated him and fought him because of his handshake with Raila Odinga)
The DP warned that leaders should not be used to fight their counterparts in Mt Kenya.
Gachagua attributed the alleged woes he is facing to the unity push he is spearheading in the Mt Kenya region.
He said the former President should be accorded respect and allowed to work with other Mt Kenya leaders.
"Rais wetu ameona inafaa washikane na Raila Odinga. Mimi nikajiuliza kama kiongozi nitakuwa mjinga kiasi gani kama yule Raila tulikuwa tunapiga Uhuru juu yake, wameshikana na Rais wetu, hata mimi nikasema Uhuru ni wetu, ni mtoto wetu aheshimiwe na tukae pamoja," he said.
This is loosely translated to:
(Our President reconciled with Raila Odinga and I said that I'll would be a fool because if Raila, the core reason we fought Uhuru, reconciled with Uhuru [and] has also reconciled with President Ruto. That is why I reached out to Uhuru our son and he deserves respect so that we work together)
Gachagua said Mt Kenya is the only region that has been engaging in fights and war of words instead of its leaders working together.
The DP has on several occasions expressed willingness to work with former President Uhuru for the sake of Mt Kenya unity.
In March, Gachagua extended an apology to Mama Ngina Kenyatta, Uhuru's mother, for the rift that occurred in 2022.
The DP expressed remorse over the disrespectful behaviour exhibited towards the former First Lady during the heightened political activities that preceded the last general election.
He pledged to work towards fostering unity and healing the wounds of past political rivalries, stressing the need to uphold respect for elders.
"In 2022, politics had deteriorated to a deplorable state. There was a regrettable lack of respect, with insults being hurled at Mama Ngina, and I'm very sorry for that. We humbly request her forgiveness," Gachagua said.
He emphasised the importance of respecting the former President, highlighting his significant role within the Kikuyu community.
