Deputy President William Ruto has come to the defense of his running mate, the Mathira legislature Rigathi Gachagua terming him a God-fearing leader.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 17, during the funeral service of a stepbrother to the Mathira MP at Hiriga village, Ruto said Gachagua is a prayerful person who is concerned about the plight of Kenyans.
“The second most important thing that allowed us to decide Rigathi Gacagua is because we able believe we can do all we can but without God, it won’t go very far. Rigathi Gachagua we have a God-fearing man, and we also have a prayer warrior in mama Dorcas.” DP Ruto said.
The deputy president was explaining the reasons that informed his decision to name the outspoken legislature as his presidential running mate ahead of the August polls.
“I chose Gachagua because he cares about the common person. He is a hard-working man who has always faced challenges head-on and I have confidence in him,” he said.
But the DP defends his choice of Gachagua, most critics have questioned the integrity issues surrounding the Mathira MP.
Some people have queried how the lawmaker will effectively execute his role with the many corruption cases that he is facing.
“This country is going to the dogs. The person who has been named running mate will be needed in court now and then; when will he work for the people,” ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said on the Ruto-Gacagua ticket.
Gachagua who claims to be a self-made billionaire is battling allegations of fraud in court involving billions of shillings of taxpayers’ money.
The MP is defending himself in court over accusations of fraudulent acquisition of public property and money laundering amounting to Sh7.3 billion through three bank accounts domiciled at Rafiki Microfinance Bank.
In October 2020 Justice Joseph Onyiego froze more than Sh200 million belonging to the MP, even though he has on several occasions defended himself saying the charges are politically motivated.
“Those are allegations and an allegation is not a conviction. The Kenyan constitution is very clear, that you can only be barred from political office when you have been convicted and you have exhausted the mechanisms offered by law for appeal,” Gachagua said on corruption cases facing him.
