Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a sharp attack on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, warning him against dragging retired President Uhuru Kenyatta into ongoing political disputes.
Speaking during a church service in Murang’a county, Gachagua criticised Duale for repeatedly claiming that Uhuru mistreated President William Ruto during his tenure as Deputy President.
“Do not talk about humiliation and persecution of a Deputy President,” Gachagua said. “Those making noise should first look at what is happening today before revisiting the past.”
His remarks come a day after Duale, while addressing a public gathering in Mandera county, claimed that Uhuru had undermined and humiliated Ruto during their time in office, adding that the former Head of State was partly to blame for Kenya’s political challenges.
Gachagua, however, strongly defended Uhuru, arguing that the former President never attempted to remove Ruto from office nor curtailed his political activities.
“Uhuru Kenyatta never made any move to impeach William Ruto. He never sent goons or police to beat and teargas him when he was Deputy President,” Gachagua said. “He never stopped him from moving around the country. Even here in the mountain, he was present every week.”
In a direct comparison, Gachagua claimed the current administration was subjecting his successor to political harassment.
“Today, we have seen a Deputy President being humiliated, persecuted and even impeached. Goons and police are sent to his former deputy to beat him up every weekend,” he claimed.
The former Deputy President went further to caution Duale against engaging in what he termed as unnecessary political attacks, urging him instead to focus on his ministerial responsibilities in the health sector.
“Aden Duale, do not go in that direction. Leave Uhuru Kenyatta alone and concentrate on the Social Health Authority. That is not working,” Gachagua said. “And I said earlier, SHA will collapse in the next five months. When it collapses, it will have the biggest corporate loss in the history of Kenya.”
Duale, in his remarks, had defended Ruto, warning critics against what he described as attempts to undermine the Head of State.
“They disrespected you when you were Deputy President and think they can do it again now,” Duale said. “They did all manner of evil when you were Deputy President. If they think they can insult you, humiliate you and disrespect you again, Kenyans will rise against them.”
He also claimed that the current administration had delivered development in regions that had previously been neglected.
“I was in Western Kenya, and people told me they are now seeing development that they did not see during Uhuru’s tenure,” Duale added.
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