A Political Rift: Kawanjiku and Gachagua
Kiambaa MP John Kawanjiku has made it clear that he owes no political allegiance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, stating that he has “paid all his political debts” and will no longer be subjected to pressure. This declaration comes after a series of tense interactions between the two figures, highlighting a growing rift in their relationship.
Kawanjiku explained that Gachagua believes he supported his campaign for the parliamentary seat, expecting loyalty and support in return. During an interview, Kawanjiku said, “I think the former Deputy President believes he really campaigned for me alone, and that my loyalty should be to him.” However, Kawanjiku emphasized that he has already fulfilled his obligations and is no longer willing to comply with what he sees as unreasonable demands.
Tensions Escalate
The first-term legislator recounted a particularly tense encounter with Gachagua in 2023, during which he was spoken to harshly and asked to leave the then Deputy President’s office at Harambee House Annexe. Kawanjiku described the incident as part of a broader pattern of pressure from Gachagua.
“At the time, we were talking about generational change,” Kawanjiku said. “When Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro visited my constituency, he (Gachagua) called me, spoke to me angrily over the phone, and later asked me to leave his office.”
This confrontation was not an isolated incident. Kawanjiku described another situation where he and other leaders had gone to lobby for a particular appointment, but the atmosphere quickly shifted. In the holding room, as they waited, Gachagua suddenly raised his voice at Kawanjiku, asking what he was doing there.
“Even the security officers were surprised. Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, and Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a were there, and everyone was surprised in fact. I honestly really didn’t know what I had done wrong.”
The Root of the Conflict
According to Kawanjiku, the fallout stemmed from his association with Ndindi Nyoro, whom Gachagua viewed as a political rival. “The problem was that I had hosted Nyoro in my constituency,” he said. “So I asked him, do you want to influence who I can be friends with?”
Kawanjiku explained that the meeting in question in Kiharu had been focused on training MPs on how to effectively utilise the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). “When I became MP, Gachagua himself advised me to learn from Nyoro’s model in Kiharu,” he said. “Nyoro used labour-based projects that deliver more with less money, and I even took my team there to learn. Now he’s upset that I attended a meeting there? It makes no sense.”
He added that Gachagua claimed he sat in a meeting where people “criticised” him, a claim Kawanjiku dismissed as unfounded. “No one criticised him,” Kawanjiku said. “People were simply saying they see a future in this young man, Ndindi Nyoro.”
Political Commentary
Last weekend, Gachagua, leader of DP, commented that Mt Kenya region has elected weak MPs as opposed to the Nyanza region, which picks intellectuals to parliament. He particularly mentioned Kawanjiku and Wamatinga as examples.