By Peter Ochieng
Lawyer Joshua Miguna Miguna has reminded Kenya Kwanza legislatures attacking Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua that they are making him strong, at the expense of pulling him down.
Miguna, through a post on X said like Jaramogig Oginga Odinga and William Ruto before him, the attacks will end up building the second in command politically.
“By publicly attacking, ridiculing, and embarrassing @rigathi, they are building him into an impregnable Mount Kenya populist, loved by the people who are supposed to hate him. And like @WilliamsRuto and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Riggy G has learnt that “Kama Mbaya, Mbaya!” is a lethal slogan when squeezed into a corner,” said the vocal lawyer.
Some of his followers on the social media platform, concurred with him. “If a by-election can happen right now in Mt Kenya, that’s when people can know the extent Riggy G has succeeded in bringing Mt Kenya votes to his side. Ruto should take care of him, the guy is silently owning his region’s votes,” wrote Jimmy Chad.
However, others differed. “But will @rigathi exhibit the political muscle to rally Rift valley, Nyanza, Western, Coast, Eastern, Northern Eastern behind him? Especially with this One Man, One Vote, One Shilling campaign he is currently leading?” wondered Shem Ochuodho.
On Tuesday, some Kenya Kwanza legislatures took to X to attack Gachagua, after photos of him boarding an economy class Kenya Airways plane from Nairobi to Mombasa went viral.
The ‘attackers’ were led by Kimani Ichung’wah, Kikuyu MP and leader of Majority in the National Assembly.
“Neither President @WilliamsRuto nor the government of Kenya or Members of Parliament will succumb to blackmail. No amount of sympathy seeking photos, vernacular stations campaigns, social media blogging troops will handover billions to satisfy anyone’s insatiable greed for power and money,” he wrote.
Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi joined the bandwagon. “If you find yourself depending on @ngunjiriwambugu as your advisor, then just know you are doomed. It is better to be advised by a class 2 child.”
“Huyu, a first commercial flight paid for by taxpayers and escorted in new high-end land cruisers to the airside, is craving for sympathy. Bure kabisa! NO BLACKMAIL,” stated Kimilili MP Didymus Barasa.
The attacks against the DP point to a possible fallout in the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.