In an interview with Inooro TV, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has shed new light on his public falling out with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, exposing what appears to be a growing rift between President William Ruto and his second-in-command.
According to Citizen, Wamumbi clarified that their disagreement was not related to Gachagua’s campaign against illicit liquor. Instead, he disclosed that the conflict arose when Gachagua allegedly asked them to abandon the current leadership and begin preparations for the 2027 general election.
Alleged Meeting with Gachagua
Wamumbi recounted a lengthy private meeting with Gachagua on May 25, 2024, which lasted from 7:30 AM to 3 PM. During this meeting, Wamumbi claims he tried to warn Gachagua that his advisers were leading him astray.
He expressed concern that Gachagua, who had previously positioned himself as a tireless advocate for the Gikuyu people, was now steering them in the wrong direction.
The MP went on to accuse Gachagua of betraying his pre-election agreement with President Ruto. Wamumbi revealed that Gachagua had initially introduced him to Ruto before the 2022 elections, operating on a gentleman’s agreement regarding power-sharing post-election.
“Gachagua told me he was not going to have a written agreement with President Ruto because he trusted him,” Wamumbi stated. “He told us that after we won the election, he would then go to the President with a list of seats that would benefit the Central Kenya people.”
Promise of Government Positions
According to Wamumbi, following the election victory, Gachagua approached President Ruto with a list of demands for key positions in the government. These included nine crucial seats that Gachagua believed would benefit the people of Central Kenya, spanning various ministries and important government positions.
Wamumbi claims that Gachagua’s efforts resulted in appointments in Agriculture, Finance, Security, Water, Lands, Public Service, as well as the positions of Secretary to Cabinet, Central Bank Governor, and Attorney General – all filled by individuals from the Central Kenya region.
The MP says he urged Gachagua to reconsider his apparent plans to form a new political vehicle for 2027. Instead, Wamumbi advocated for leveraging the current positions – 10 out of 26 cabinet positions – to benefit the Mt. Kenya region while serving under President Ruto’s administration.
“I begged him that we stay in government since we already have enough seats we should work using what we have,” Wamumbi explained. He also added a personal note, saying, “He has helped me a lot in my life, but that does not mean I do not have opinions on our country’s leadership.”
