Gachagua should go beyond Mt Kenya: Wamuchomba
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, a close ally-turned-bitter critic of President William Ruto, has accused the Head of State of betraying campaign promises, ignoring public input, and prioritising taxation over the welfare of citizens.
She expressed growing disillusionment with the government, citing its neglect of farmers and failure to uphold democratic principles.
Ms Wamuchomba attributed her ouster as chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) in the National Assembly to her opposition to critical government bills.
She stated that her resistance made her a “bottleneck” in Parliament, but she remained committed to serving her constituents rather than conforming to political pressures.
“They were bitter. They would love to see their Member of Parliament in those strategic positions,” said Ms Wamuchomba on NTV’s Fixing the Nation programme.
The MP condemned public participation as a mere formality, noting that despite overwhelming opposition to key bills like the 2023 and 2024 Finance Bills, they were still passed.
She proposed an overhaul of governance, suggesting direct public voting on major decisions.
“We need to go back and say we don’t have to have public participation, let the ruling class have it anyway if it is not truly representing the people” she asserted.
Ms Wamuchomba distanced herself from the administration due to policies that she argued oppressed farmers.
She revealed that President Ruto intended to tax all farm produce without first improving farmers’ earnings. She also accused the government of distributing substandard fertilizer while denying its poor quality.
“The next thing that made me feel that President Ruto’s regime, led by him, was not honest, is when he supplied us with subsidised fertiliser that was under-targeted. How can my mother and farmers complain about this fertiliser, yet the President calls it propaganda?” she questioned.
She expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to implement the Guaranteed Minimum Return (GMR) for farmers and to deliver milk coolers promised to Githunguri dairy farmers.
Instead, she argued, the government is prioritizing taxation over agricultural support.
‘He came to Githunguri personally and said he is going to deliver the milk coolers. He said he was not going to give five as we had asked but 30. Those 30 since 2023 have never been delivered yet they were in the budget,” she added.
Additionally, Ms Wamuchomba challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to broaden his leadership beyond Mount Kenya, urging him to fight for all Kenyans.
“Rigathi needs to realise that he has the mountain is with him. He doesn’t have to talk much and punch again about the mountain. He already has it,” she said.
“He needs to be seen as more accommodating to other communities. The same energy he’s using for the mountain, he needs to be seen to be advocating for the forgotten communities of this country.”
Her remarks highlight growing concerns that Mr Gachagua’s regional focus could limit his potential as a national leader.
Mr Gachagua has fiercely defended Mount Kenya’s interests, solidifying his regional support.
However, Ms Wamuchomba believes he must now pivot to national issues such as taxation, labour policies, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“He has a very good way of pushing issues. I wish he could use that energy to fight for other Kenyans, fight for pay slips so that we don’t have any more deductions, and so that we don’t suffer more taxation,” she acknowledged.
She pointed to his influence in preventing the removal of certain Principal Secretaries, claiming President Ruto was forced to reconsider after Mr Gachagua spoke out.
“The other day he talked about PSAs who are just about to be removed from the government. When he spoke about it, William Ruto was scared. We already believe in Gachagua’s energy to fight for the mountain. Now it’s time for him to fight for all Kenyans,” Ms Wamuchomba said.
Ms Wamuchomba also addressed the controversial 2023 Finance Bill, hinting at financial incentives behind the overwhelming support from UDA and Kenya Kwanza MPs.
“You’ve heard people say they were given money. It’s in the public arena. People had to toe the line because the offer was just too tempting, I hear,” she said.
However, beyond the financial incentives, she suggested that Mr Gachagua himself may have contributed to resistance within Parliament due to his leadership style.
“For the last two years, he didn’t carry himself in a way that appealed to most MPs. His language was too abrasive, his conduct was sometimes off the radar. Many MPs told me they won’t support him because of how he treated them,” she explained.
She revealed that she tried to rally MPs in his support, particularly against his impeachment, but many remained unconvinced.
“They would say no, he called me this name, he treated me this way. I went to his reception, and he refused to see me. He came to my constituency and didn’t even greet me.”
In a cryptic remark, Ms Wamuchomba referenced a mugumo tree that recently fell in Githunguri, an event considered symbolic in Kikuyu culture.
“When a mugumo tree falls, something big happens. One big pillar falls. A pillar is falling soon,” she warned.
Ms Wamuchomba urged leaders to prioritise citizens’ needs over party loyalty.
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