KAMATUSA Leaders Criticise Gachagua Over Nakuru Political Rhetoric

By Elijah Cherutich

Leaders affiliated with KAMATUSA have accused former Deputy President and Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua of pursuing politics they say could strain relations among communities in Nakuru County.

KAMATUSA represents members of the Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu communities. Its leaders spoke after Gachagua completed a two-day political tour of the county.

Speaking in Nakuru town, KAMATUSA Samburu County chairman Joseph Lekolwal criticised Gachagua’s political approach, saying it risked undermining the longstanding peaceful coexistence among communities in the region.

Lekolwal, who is also the national chairman of the Ruto Tano Tena movement, said communities across the Rift Valley wanted peace before and after the next election to allow government development programmes to continue uninterrupted.

“KAMATUSA condemns any actions that may fragment communities in this region, which have lived together peacefully for a long time. We want peace, and Gachagua should not push his politics down people’s throats without considering how it will affect local unity,” he said.

Lekolwal also claimed the region remained firmly behind President William Ruto’s bid for a second term and his economic agenda.

Kibet Arap, a leader from Kaptembwa Ward in Nakuru Town West, described the incident reported in the area during Gachagua’s tour as regrettable and said it should not happen again.

He said communities in the area remained united and should be allowed to engage in politics peacefully without outside interference in their choice of leaders.

Former Kapkures MCA Joseph Langat and Nakuru Town West UDA official Francis Kemei also urged Gachagua to moderate his remarks, claiming some of his statements risked angering local leaders and residents.

They said political leaders had a constitutional right to make their own choices without being pressured to support a particular political direction.