Ichung'wah Claims Gachagua Manhandled Itumbi at Undisclosed State Lodge

The National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has recounted an incident where Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua allegedly confronted and threatened to physically assault Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi during the 2022 election campaigns at an unspecified State Lodge.

In a September 17 interview with Spice FM, Ichung'wah recounts a troubling incident at an undisclosed State Lodge. According to his account, Gachagua reportedly grabbed digital strategist Dennis Itumbi by the collar and threatened him with physical violence, apparently due to Itumbi's failure to post expected content on social media. This incident is particularly noteworthy given Itumbi's significant contributions to the Kenya Kwanza campaign, which ultimately led to President William Ruto's electoral victory. Ichung'wah characterizes Gachagua's actions as indicative of a vindictive nature, citing additional instances of the deputy president's emotional outbursts when individuals failed to meet his expectations or associated with those he disapproved of.

One such example involved MP Njuguna Kawanjiku, whom Gachagua allegedly humiliated by publicly disclosing personal financial details related to his dowry and wedding expenses. Ichung'wah further claims that numerous MPs, especially those from the Mt. Kenya region, have endured intimidation and manipulation at the hands of the deputy president. He suggests that many of these lawmakers live in constant fear due to Gachagua's alleged attempts to control and intimidate them. The majority leader also recounts an incident where Gachagua reportedly used inappropriate language to refer to MP Florence Jematiah from Baringo, apparently because of her collaboration with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

Ichung'wah posits that these tactics form part of Gachagua's strategy to isolate and manipulate the Mt. Kenya people for his political ambitions, with those who deviate facing consequences. Beyond these allegations of misconduct, Ichung'wah criticizes Gachagua for failing to fulfill his duties as deputy president adequately. He argues that instead of articulating government agendas and policies to the public, Gachagua often resorts to complaining on vernacular radio stations when faced with adversity. The tension between Ichung'wah and Gachagua is not a recent development. Earlier this year, Ichung'wah publicly challenged Gachagua's unity efforts by urging him to transcend regional politics and focus on uniting all Kenyans.

He emphasized that as a national leader, Gachagua's responsibility extends beyond the Mt. Kenya region to the entire country. This growing rift has seen Ichung'wah accuse Gachagua of promoting ethnic division and exploiting his position for personal gain. In a recent church service, Ichung'wah made a thinly veiled attack on Gachagua, urging President Ruto to "shake off the viper on your hand." He drew parallels between Ruto's leadership challenges and the biblical account of Apostle Paul shaking off a snake coiled around his hand. In response to these criticisms, Gachagua has defended his actions and cautioned his detractors against mistaking Mt. Kenya's silence for weakness. He has dismissed accusations of creating divisive narratives, asserting that his primary focus remains on national unity.