You Made Us Lose 300,000 Votes In Elections- Gachagua To KTN's Sophia Wanuna
He also claimed that because of the two anchors focusing on his integrity issues, he alongside President William Ruto lost nearly 300,000 votes in the August 9, 2022, general elections.
admin
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua believes that KTN News's Sophia Wanuna was being unfair to him during the deputy presidential debate held on Tuesday, July 19.
Speaking on KTN News on Sunday, September 18, Gachagua alleged that Sophia, alongside NTV's James Smart, had denied him the opportunity to address what the Kenya Kwanza government had planned for Kenyans before they were elected into power.
He also claimed that because of the two anchors focusing on his integrity issues, he alongside President William Ruto lost nearly 300,000 votes in the August 9, 2022, general elections.
"Sophia to start with, both of you were very unfair to me in the running mate debate because you never gave me an opportunity to tell the people of Kenya what we want to do for them. You took me to issues and took too much time, it's okay to talk about integrity but you took too much time.
Martha Karua and Rigathi Gachagua shake hands during the 2022 Deputy Presidential debate. /PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES KENYA
"I can tell you, had you given me that opportunity, the 7.2 million votes we got, we'd have got 7.5 million," he said.
Many of the questions fielded to Gachagua during the debate revolved around integrity issues, and the DP maintained that he was clean despite losing Ksh200 million to the previous regime over suspicions of being proceeds of corruption.
He claimed he was a victim of former President Uhuru Kenyatta's wrath to straighten everyone to support his political "project".
“I don't have billions, I only have Ksh203 million in that account. I am worth Ksh800 million minus the Ksh200 million they are holding, that's Ksh600 million,” he said.
Why Gachagua Has Not Moved To DP's Official Home
On moving to the Ksh385 million official residence of the deputy president days after being sworn in as the second in command, Gachagua revealed that he was more attached to his private home in Karen where he has lived for many years.
“It's very nostalgic for me to walk away from a home where I have lived for 24 years and go and start a new home. President William Ruto has already moved to State House and the official residence of the deputy president is ready but I am yet to come to terms with the new situation,” he said.
He nonetheless maintained that he would move to the official residence in the same area after he is done acclimatising himself to the changes around him.
“Work is going on and in due course, I will move to the official residence but I need to digest the changes and all the things that are going around me.
"They are very momentous. I am yet to acclimatise, digest and accept the new situation and status. It was very overwhelming so I need to take a bit of time but in due course, I will be moving to the official residence," he explained.
On Ruto's Blunder On Dumping SADR
Wanuna tasked Gachagua to explain Kenya's position on the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) days after President Ruto erroneously tweeted that the country had disregarded SADR as a sovereign state.
"A clarification has already been made. Kenya's position on SADR is that of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN)," he said, adding that the reason the tweet was put up was that Ruto had many delegates visiting him at State House and communications had to be issued on time.
True to his word, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had reversed Ruto's decision to dump SADR, noting that it still supports SADR's efforts to self-determine.
"Reference is made to the above subject. The Republic of Kenya maintains excellent relations with all Members of the African Union (A.U) and the United Nations (U.N). Kenya has always and will continue to strengthen these relations for mutual benefit.
"Kenya's position on the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is fully aligned with; the decision of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to admit SADR to its membership on 22nd August 1982, and the A.U Charter which calls for the unquestionable and inalienable right of a people to self-determination. Further, the Country, aligns itself with decisions of subsequent AU Assemblies of Heads of State and Government on SADR," explained Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau.
The statement further made it clear that Kenya did not conduct its foreign policy on Twitter but rather depended on highly classified Government documents.
"Consequently, Kenya aligns itself with UN Security Council Resolution 690 (1991) which calls for the self-determination of Western Sahara through a free and fair referendum administered by the U.N and the A.U. Kenya supports the implementation of this UN Security Council Resolution to the letter.
"It should equally be noted, that Kenya does not conduct its foreign policy on Twitter or any other social media platforms, rather through official government documents and frameworks," added the statement.
President William Ruto (right) with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at State House Nairobi on September 14, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO
