Gachagua Speaks on Firing Moses Kuria

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out to dismiss the purported rivalry between him and Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.

Speaking on Friday during the burial of Mau Mau freedom fighter Field Marshal Muthoni wa Kirima at Kinunga Stadium in Nyeri County, the DP poured cold water on recent calls by government critics to have the CS fired over misconduct claims, saying Kuria was there to stay.

“Nasikia watu wanasema kuria afutwe kazi, afutwe aende wapi. Kama alikosea kidogo nilimwambia kama Baba. Lakini hakuna mtu anaweweza kama kuria.  Nyinyi watu wa magazeti mlisema ati kuna vita hapa mlima. Hakuna, hiyo picha yangu na kuria badilisha uweke pamoja,” Gachagua said. 

(I hear people saying Moses Kuria should be sacked. Where will he go? If he made a small mistake, I advised him as a father. You newspaper people (journalists) said there is a rift in Mt Kenya. There is none, change the picture and put me together with Kuria.)

Gachagua scoffed at the perceived rivalry and politics on control of Mt Kenya region, saying that the region was united in voice and reason under his leadership.

“My work is to protect Mt Kenya interest…Nobody can divide this community, if we feel that our interests are threatened then we speak as one,” he said.

CS Kuria chimed in to reaffirm Gachagua as the region’s kingpin saying that he would ensure the interests of the people are protected.

“Mwenye anatuongoza hapa mlima, kiongozi wa hii mlima no Rigathi Gachagua na kama mau mau hawatasaidika sasa hawatawai,” he said.

Last week, a section of leaders from the Opposition and some in the government called on President William Ruto to fire CS Kuria and reshuffle his Cabinet citing misconduct.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Sunday opined that the president should sack Kuria to restore sanity in his leadership.

He said: “ I want to tell you that the people you have given jobs have put you in deep trouble. The minister for trade, and energy and your economic advisors must tell Kenyans what they mean… Sack these people so that the fuel prices come down.” 

Kuria would later apologise for his comments earlier which Kenyans had deemed as mockery, after he told them to stop complaining and brace for more fuel increase.