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Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu on Tuesday, contradicted President William Ruto’s claim that former Deputy President Rigathi Gichagua had asked for Sh10 billion so as not to consign to a one term president.
Nyutu at the same time said Gachagua was planning to field a candidate in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election following the nomination of MP Geoffery Ruku to Cabinet.
Nyutu who was speaking during a Press briefing within the precincts of Parliament dismissed the President's televised address on Monday night, claiming that that he (Ruto) uttered a lot of falsehoods as he embarked on his tour of his Mt Kenya region.
He specifically took issue with the Head of State’s claim that Gachagua demanded for a Sh10 billion bribe for his exit.
“Those claims were very inconsistent. You remember sometime back there were other claims by Dennis Itumbi that Gachagua had requested for Sh6.4 billion. If you want to know it is not the truth, you will see how inconsistent they have been,” said the Senator.
According to Ruto, Gachagua had demanded the billions to rally political support for him in the Mt Kenya region.
Nyutu further claimed that Ruto contradicted himself by saying that he had no hand in the ouster of Gachagua yet according to some MPs , he “gave it his blessing.”
“The President accused Gachagua of not advocating for government projects on television stations but at the same time he claimed to have not implemented any projects in the last two years because he was first fixing the economy…” stated Nyutu.
Adding, “We must not allow any lies from the person of the stature of the President.”
At the same time, the told of plans to mount a political contest against President William Ruto’s UDA party in Mbeere North in the forthcoming by-election occasioned by the nomination of MP Ruku to Cabinet.
Ruku was nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes.Should Parliament give him the nod, he will replace Justin Muturi.
The development comes just hours after Gachagua took to his X account, branding the Head of State a “pathological liar,. He however, did not directly mention him.
He accused Ruto of misleading Kenyans during the interview in which the president suggested his former deputy was removed due to selfish interests, poor leadership, and an inability to work with other government officials.
“I am now more convinced than ever that pathological lying is a mental disorder,” Gachagua wrote.
“The greatest existential threat to our beloved country is outright lying to the people of Kenya without blinking and failure by a leader to put his team together to harmonise their lies. I weep for my country, Kenya,” he added.
His remarks came after Ruto’s interview on vernacular TV stations ahead where he outlined reasons for Gachagua’s ouster.
Ruto claimed Gachagua’s constant conflicts with officials and MPs bloggers and presidential aides were a distraction from his duties.
“He was not working; he was always engaged in fights, constantly complaining about officials. I had to intervene every time until I got tired,” Ruto said.
Ruto also revealed that Gachagua had demanded Ksh10 billion to resolve issues in Mt. Kenya, threatening Ruto with a one-term presidency if the money was not provided.
“I refused when he asked me for Sh10 billion, saying that if I didn’t give him the money, I would be a one term president. “I refused when he asked me for Sh10 billion, saying that if I didn’t give him the money, I would be a one-term president. This is someone I repeatedly shielded from impeachment when leaders sought his removal for intimidation, but at some point, I gave up,” Ruto said.
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