Uhuru uninterested in dialogue: Kioni rebukes Gachagua’s proposal
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, has come down hard on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for suggesting a dialogue with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In a recent interview with K24 TV, Kioni labeled the proposal as disrespectful towards the former President, who has chosen to remain silent on political matters.
“I’ve heard Gachagua express his desire to engage in dialogue with Uhuru, but Uhuru doesn’t require such discussions. He has already led Kenya, completed his term, and stepped down. If you’ve obtained your position (regardless of the means), lead in your own unique way,” he stated.
Kioni didn’t mince words as he continued, “You have insulted people since 2017, planting the seed of hatred. You stole sheep at Northlands. Now you want Uhuru for dialogue?”
Gachagua had declared his intention to reconcile the region, which experienced divisions following the 2022 general elections that saw Uhuru’s preferred candidate, Raila Odinga, lose.
“Uhuru was fronting Raila Odinga for the presidency, but he lost. Regardless, we have decided to embrace him as our respectable son and statesman,” Gachagua stated during an interview with a local news outlet.
“As leaders from the region, we have also decided to stop fighting him, and I’m planning to hold talks with him. I have asked everyone to accord him respect, and I’m glad he has also been peaceful,” he added.
Also read: ‘Cornered’ Gachagua plots Uhuru ‘handshake’
In July, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) upheld the appointment of Kanini Kega as the Secretary General of the Jubilee Party, as endorsed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on April 16, 2023.
The tribunal ruled that the NEC meeting, which duly removed Jeremiah Kioni as SG and appointed Kega in his place, was properly convened and constituted.
While dismissing the appeal filed by Kioni, the tribunal also ruled that the Registrar of Political Parties had acted properly by not recognizing the embattled secretary-general.
Kioni believes that the Kenya Kwanza coalition may be facing political challenges, which has led Gachagua to seek dialogue with Uhuru.
However, Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Monday report, stated that the perceived rift is a result of media creation and that the President and Deputy are aligned in their objectives.
“The President and his Deputy are okay and reading from the same script. This is just a creation of the media, a deliberate creation of that rift,” said Mwaura.
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