A few days after decamping from Jubilee to the UDA side, Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru may not find things as easy as she thought due to the Gachagua factor.
Many people had speculated that Ann Waiguru would be the running mate for deputy president William Ruto, something which may not materialize due to a move by the second in command to groom the Mathira member of parliament Rigathi Gachagua.
According to the Ruto insiders who spoke to Sonko News, Gachagua is a potential running mate because the man is believed to have very deep pockets unlike the likes of Waiguru who would only be a burden to the DP.
Besides being financially endowed as reported by Citizen Weekly, Gachagua is said to have known the deputy president for the longest time possible starting from their days in Nairobi university to being former president Moi’s key pointmen.
However, the move to groom Gachagua has drawn mixed reactions within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) camp with some backing it while others opposing it.
In fact, the Mathira member of parliament has been accused of blocking other central leaders from having a meeting with William Ruto.
Others within Ruto’s camp have opined that he should appoint a running mate outside the central region so that the presidency is not seen as belonging to two communities.
Citizen Weekly added that Gachagua is currently working on a lineup in Kikuyu politics sidelining those he perceives are a threat in UDA as he eyes presidency in 2027. Reports indicate Gachagua game plan is to inherit the community leadership whether Ruto wins in 2022 or not.
The sources add that he is very much aware of Ruto’s deep influence in Kikuyu politics and being his pointman and deputy will put him in pole position to be the undisputed Kikuyu leader.
Late last year, the legislator was being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation after he was linked to a 12.5 billion tender scam.
Bank accounts belonging to the legislator were frozen as detectives sought to know the source of some Ksh.12.5 billion that passed through his accounts.
Gachagua was suspected to have used proxies to fraudulently secure tenders using 22 companies with him as the sole beneficiary.
Detectives visited 5 counties, government parastatals and his own National Government Constituency Development Fund where he was suspected to have fraudulently won tenders using 22 companies.
An investigation file seen by Sonko News shows that two hairdressers and a former mobile money transfer agent were awarded multi million-shilling tenders for the National Government and Mathira Constituency CDF. But Gachagua claimed the deals were not fraudulent.
“These people who are being accused of being nobodies and have done alot of business were my employees previously. I have empowered and mentored them and made them grow,” said Gachagua
However, the move to groom Gachagua has drawn mixed reactions within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) camp with some backing it while others opposing it.
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