‘I did not say government is a company’ – Gachagua breaks silence after backlash

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says his comments that some people have more shares in government than others were misrepresented.

Speaking during an interdenominational thanksgiving service at Kirubia Stadium in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi county on Sunday, Mach 12, the country’s second in command said he did not say that the government is a company as reported in a section of the media.

Gachagua explained that he only likened the government to a limited company, where individuals have varying amounts of shares.

Responding to claims that the remarks were meant to sideline some regions that did not vote for the Kenya Kwanza administration in the last election, Gachagua affirmed that the government will serve everybody but only those leaders who are loyal to President William Ruto will get a chance to serve in his administration.

“There are comments I made in Kericho and these Azimio people started attacking me. I said that everybody in Kenya will enjoy government services because they are paying taxes. But also said that the President will only appoint those who love and believe in his leadership to help him in running the government because if he picked those who have been making noise around they will sabotage his work.

“I did not say the government is a company. I said the government is like a company,” Gachagua explained.

Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition Raila Odinga had accused Gachagua of dividing the nation along tribal lines.

Speaking during the opposition’s prayer rally at Jeevanjee Grounds on February 22, Raila said every Kenyan has a right to get services from the national government regardless of how they voted in the last general election.

While dismissing the Kenya Kwanza administration as illegitimate, the former Prime Minister said the Azimio government would run an inclusive government without disenfranchising other communities.

“Ati kuna wale wako na hisa mingi zaidi wengine wako na kidogo na wengine hawana ata. Yaani yeye hatambui wewe kama mkenya manake wewe huna share katika serikali yao. Serikali yao ni yao. Serikali ya Wakenya iko na inakuja. Tumesema kama Azimio kila mkenya ni mkenya ata kama wewe hukupiga kura kwa azimio wewe ni mkenya. Kila mkenya ana haki ya kupata huduma kutoka kwa serikali kwa sababu kila mkenya anatoa ushuru kwa serikali,” Raila said to cheers from the crowd.

“Kwa hivyo serikali ya Azimio itaangalia masirahi ya wakenya wote bila kuangalia kabila.”