Lands CS Alice Wahome addressing Muruka residents in Kandara, Murang'a/HANDOUTLands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has defended herself
against claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that she’s
undergoing intimidation in government.
Gachagua, who visited Kandara constituency, Wahome’s
backyard, a few days ago, claimed that the CS had lost her voice in the Kenya
Kwanza government whose election she vehemently fought for.
“Hata huyu mama Alice, ameteseka sana. [The CS has suffered a lot] When I was the Deputy President a Principal Secretary was installed in her ministry. The President
doesn't talk to her; he talks to the PS”.
“She’d hear that the President had organised a meeting
without her knowledge. Alice is just sitting there, doing nothing. And because
she’s our elder, I told her to persevere and take the salary for her children,”
Gachagua said.
Last week, the former Deputy President visited the county
twice in what was widely perceived as an attempt to dampen President Ruto’s
meeting with thousands of local grassroots leaders from the county in
State House.
The sentiments prompted Wahome to travel back to the
constituency, where she was the MP for two terms before being appointed into Cabinet.
While addressing Muruka residents, she dismissed Gachagua’s comments, denying engaging him since he was impeached from his position
last year.
She said as a lawyer, she’s well capable of defending
herself and doesn’t need Gachagua to speak on her behalf.
“If he wants to talk, let him talk about his own things. I
have my own mouth and understand myself well. I’d not even have talked about
him, I just did so to set the record straight,” she said.
“He thought he was helping me, or defending me but I want to
say the truth, I have never had a conversation with him since he left
government. I’d not allow it. Even Catholics and Protestants don’t hold the
same mass.”
The CS claimed that Gachagua looked for her
even when he served as the Deputy President, dismissing his claims that she
went to him in distress.
Wahome accused Gachagua of plotting to have her lose her
position so she can join him in the opposition, saying it was wrong to fight
other leaders instead of focusing on selling his agenda.
But she noted that she’d no longer sit back and allow him to
tarnish her name, adding that contrary to his claims, all her children are
grown up and no longer require her support.
“Those stories he brought were intended at toppling me. He
wants me to lose my work so he can find someone to work with. I want to ask you,
aren’t all my children out of school and working? I don’t have a small child to
make me stay in the government just for the salary. Those are all lies,” she
told residents.
She took the opportunity to drum up support for the
government and its development projects, reiterating that she’s in the
government to stay.
She cited the affordable housing programme that has seen
numerous projects established in the counties, creating
employment opportunities for thousands of youths while strengthening local
economies.
“And all these projects, I am the one who signs them,
together with the President,” she said, urging locals to continue
supporting the goverment.
Murang’a county has experienced heightened politics, with
some of the MPs supporting the government led by Woman Representative
Betty Maina while the rest oppose it, despite having overwhelmingly voted for
Ruto.
Maragua MP Mary Waithera, who strongly supported Gachagua
before the impeachment, announced that she had jumped ship during a visit by
the President in the area in February this year.
Others such as Peter Kihungi (Kangema), Edwin Mugo (Mathioya), Sabina Chege (nominated MP) and Veronica Maina (nominated senator) are also solidly behind the government.
