Newspapers: Circles Claim Uhuru Refused To Meet Gachagua, He Has Never Resolved Their Differences

On Sunday, December 21, local newspapers covered politics, including the changing tides in the vote-rich Mount Kenya region following the President's meeting William Ruto and his predecessor.

1. The Standard

According to the newspaper, President William Ruto is planning to take the fight to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua's stronghold while trying to control the growing influence of the ousted DP in the area.

Insiders told the newspaper that Ruto is planning a ground war against his former DP, with allies of former president Uhuru Kenyatta leading the attack.

The appointment of Uhuru's allies, including former Kiambu governor William Kabogo, Mutahi Kagwe and former Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui, in the Cabinet ensures that Gachagua is blocked from all angles.

Uhuru joining the 'broad-based' Ruto government promises to challenge Gachagua's claim to control the Mt Kenya area and contradicts the former DP's claim that there was reconciliation between him and Uhuru.

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In a television interview before his removal from power in October, Gachagua said that he met and fixed things with Uhuru, a man who mocked him before and after the 2022 election. He said his problems stemmed from his association with the former president.

But sources now say the two did not meet, a claim which The Saturday Standard could not immediately confirm.

One account suggests that Gachagua was tricked into believing he was going to meet Uhuru, but the meeting was unsuccessful.

“During his removal from power, Gachagua was eager to meet Uhuru and he reached out to mediators who promised him to arrange a meeting. Gachagua waited for many hours,” said a source who asked not to be named.

They said that the former president had no intention of meeting Gachagua, his former personal assistant.

2. Nation Today

Kiswahili newspaper reported that ODM leader Raila OdingaFriday, December 20, expressed his support for President William Ruto while accusing critics of the Kenya First government for refusing to see any good in that government.

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Although he acknowledged that tough economic times have reduced public trust in government institutions and increased division among Kenyans, Raila slammed opponents he called “prophets of doom,” accusing them of using current challenges to spread grief among Kenyans.

“At this time, many of you are wondering if you will be able to continue living after you leave here because of messages from evil prophets. The country is full of prophets of doom and gloom, men and women who encourage people to accept grief as a way of life,” he said.

In his speech in Kabarak, he spoke about many challenges facing the nation, including unemployment and climate change, as major threats to national unity.

Raila pointed out that economic problems have put the country in a bad situation where citizens are increasingly losing faith in government institutions.

3. The Star

According to the newspaper, what started as a complaint on social media against the increase in taxes turned into a large and exciting riot that changed the political landscape of the country.

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Newspapers, December 18: Gachagua's allies laugh at Uhuru and Ruto's friendship

From major cities like Nairobi and Mombasa to regional centers like Kisumu and Eldoretyoung “leaderless and ethnicless” protesters turned the streets into demonstrations of resistance.

The exceptional protesters stormed and overran the country with extraordinary fury, eventually storming the heavily guarded Parliament Buildings on June 25. They destroyed and burned parts of that glorious Parliament.

Parliamentarians who had passed the tax law raised protest they ran to their safety.

Other protesters followed the lawmakers who supported the tax to their villages. Many residents prevented the MPs from entering their constituencies, accusing them of betraying the people who were suffering by raising taxes. Several lawmakers who supported the tax demanded police protection.

Generation Z led the country's largest protests against intolerable taxes, the lavish lifestyles of government officials, and chronic corruption.

Gen Z identified themselves as free of leaders, parties, tribes, and regions. They organized their activities online, criticizing the unresponsive government system.

Also read

Kenya Newspapers, December 17: Rigathi Gachagua is ready to work with Raila, Kalonzo 2027

This was different from traditional protests, which were usually led by senior politicians. So far, it is not known who, if anyone, is in charge of the protest.

4. Saturday Nation

The newspaper reported that Ruto appointed more allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga to senior government positions a day after appointing former president Uhuru Kenyatta's allies to the Cabinet.

Adams Oloo, Joe Ager and Silvester Kasuku, all allies of Raila, are now part of President Ruto's Council of Economic Advisers.

Oloo will be a Strategy and Communication Consultant, while Dr. Parrot dealing with Administration. Ager will be Secretary, Administration.

Also appointed in the Office of the President is Ali Mahat Somane, who will be in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Ager and Prof. Oloo were part of the team that coordinated the reconciliation between President Ruto and the ODM leader, which led to opposition politicians joining the Cabinet.

Oloo has been Raila's advisor for many years and played a key role in his presidential campaigns. He also served on the national negotiating committee.